Algiers, Algeria | AFP | Up to 6,000 Africans who fought for the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group in Iraq and Syria could return home, the African Union’s top security official warned Sunday, calling on countries to prepare for the threat. Smail Chergui, the AU’s commissioner for peace and security, said …
Read More »France’s Macron seeks warmer ties in former colony Algeria
Algiers, Algeria | AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday made his first official visit to Algeria, announcing that he came as a “friend” despite France’s historically prickly relationship with its former colony. Ties between Paris and Algiers have defrosted in recent years, a half-century after French forces brutally …
Read More »Hundreds of migrants held in jail in Spain
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Spain on Tuesday defended holding in prison nearly 500 migrants who arrived in the country by boat. Following criticism by rights groups, the Spanish government said it was due to a lack of space at immigration detention centres. “We feel it is better that the migrants …
Read More »Venezuela’s Maduro in Algeria for talks on oil
Algiers, Algeria | AFP | Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro visited fellow OPEC member Algeria Monday for talks after announcing Caracas would sell crude oil in non-dollar currencies in a bid to resist US sanctions. Maduro arrived late Sunday in the North African country and met Senate speaker Abdelkader Bensalah on …
Read More »GROUP OF DEATH: Zambia overcome double blow to beat Algeria
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Zambia overcame conceding a goal and having a player sent off inside 60 seconds to score a historic 3-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Algeria in Lusaka Saturday. Brian Mwila scored twice to give the “Chipolopolo” (Copper Bullets) a two-goal half-time advantage before a …
Read More »Algeria praises UN vote on disputed Western Sahara
Algiers, Algeria | AFP | Algeria on Saturday hailed a UN Security Council resolution endorsing a new peace initiative on the disputed territory of Western Sahara as a “diplomatic success”. Friday’s vote came as UN military observers confirmed that Polisario Front forces, fighting for independence in Western Sahara, had withdrawn …
Read More »Bouteflika’s frail health halts Merkel visit
Algiers, Algeria | AFP | Algeria’s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika had acute bronchitis on Monday, causing German Chancellor Angela Merkel to call off a visit to Algeria at the last minute, the presidency said. Bouteflika, Algeria’s longest-serving leader, suffered a mini-stroke in 2013 that affected his mobility and speech. The …
Read More »Tunisia through to Cup of Nations quarter-finals
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Tunisia became the first team to score four goals in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations match as they beat Zimbabwe 4-2 in Libreville Monday to seal a quarter-finals place. The Carthage Eagles, who led 4-1 at half-time, finished Group B runners-up behind Senegal and …
Read More »Mahrez scores twice but Algeria held by Zimbabwe
Franceville, Gabon | AFP | Algeria 2 (Mahrez 12, 82) Zimbabwe 2 (Mahachi 17, Mushekwi 29-pen) Standings P W D L F A Pts Algeria 1 0 1 0 2 2 1 Zimbabwe 1 0 1 0 2 2 1 Senegal 0 0 0 0 …
Read More »Volkswagen to build car assembly plant in Algeria
Algiers, Algeria | AFP | Volkswagen on Sunday signed a deal with its Algerian sales partner Sovac for the construction of a vehicle assembly plant in the North African country, officials told a news conference. Under the deal, worth $170 million (160 million euros), the plant will produce its first …
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