Five Islamists were killed as Nigerian troops thwarted a Boko Haram attack near the northeastern city of Maiduguri, the epicentre of the seven-year insurgency, the army said on Tuesday. “Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE accompanied by Civilian JTF successfully thwarted an attempt by Boko Haram terrorists on Yauri community at …

About 60 000 people have fled South Sudan since fighting broke out between rival army factions almost four weeks ago, the United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday. About 52 000 people have gone to Uganda, 7 000 to Sudan and 1 000 to Kenya, the agency said.

France on Tuesday reaffirmed its “full support” for Libya’s unity government, seeking to mend fences after the interim leader demanded an explanation for the presence of French troops in the east of the conflict-ridden country. Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the Government of National Accord (GNA), had last Monday told French …