July, 2015

• 27 July

  Somali, AU troops capture Shabaab stronghold of Dinsor

  Somali government troops backed by African Union forces on Friday captured the Shabaab stronghold of Dinsor, the second town seized from the al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamists this week, the defence minister said. “Our forces have secured control of Dinsor, and the insurgents have fled after losing the battle… the troops are now …

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• 27 July

  Two Libyan soldiers killed in Benghazi clashes

  Two Libyan soldiers were killed and 10 wounded on Thursday when eastern government forces made a new push against Islamist fighters in the embattled centre of Benghazi, medics said. Forces loyal to Libya’s internationally recognised government have been fighting Islamist groups in the country’s second-largest city for over a year, …

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• 27 July

  US President starts visit to Ethiopia, African Union

  US President Barack Obama landed in Ethiopia on Sunday, beginning a two-day stay and becoming the first American leader to visit Africa’s second most populous nation. Air Force One touched down at Addis Ababa’s international airport after a short flight north from the Kenyan capital Nairobi, and the president was …

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• 27 July

  Obama to push for South Sudan peace

  US President Barack Obama will on Monday try to build African support for tough action against South Sudan’s warring leaders if they reject an August peace ultimatum, US officials said. Obama will meet with leaders from Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda as well as Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour in Addis …

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• 27 July

  US, Turkey to work together to clear IS in Syria and Iraq

  The United States and Turkey have agreed to work together to clear Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants from northern Syria by forming an “ISIL-free zone,” a U.S. official said on July 27. “The goal is to establish an ISIL-free zone and ensure greater security and stability …

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• 27 July

  NATO chief: Turkey has not asked for substantial military help

  Turkey has not asked for substantial military help from NATO in its campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Kurdish militants, the alliance’s chief said on July 27, a day before it meets to discuss the fighting. Jens Stoltenberg also warned Turkey that its bombing …

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• 27 July

  Turkey calls for NATO meeting on security threats

  Turkey has called for a meeting of its NATO allies to discuss threats to its security and its airstrikes targeting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Iraq, as Turkey boosts international efforts to gain support for the …

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• 27 July

  French Defence Minister visits Egypt

  French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian began a two-day visit to Cairo Saturday, just days after France delivered the first batch of 24 Rafale warplanes Egypt bought in a multi-billion-euro deal. Le Drian met with his counterpart Sedki Sobhi, and will hold talks with Sisi and other Egyptian officials which …

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• 21 July

  Merkel, Hollande hope for Minsk agreement to be fully effective by the end of year

  German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande held a telephone conversation with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine on Friday to discuss the situation in eastern Ukraine, the French presidency said.

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• 21 July

  US welcomes Senegal and AU trial on former Chad dictator

  The United States commends the government of Senegal and the African Union for bringing former Chadian President Hissene Habre before the Extraordinary African Chambers of Senegal, State Department spokesman John Kirby said on Monday.

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