Washington, United States | AFP | A Libyan militant accused of leading the September 11, 2012 attack on an American diplomatic compound in Benghazi that left the US ambassador and three others dead goes on trial Monday. Ahmed Abu Khattala is charged with 18 counts of murder, supporting terrorists and related …
Read More »Turkey inaugurates military academy in Somalia
Mogadishu, Somalia | AFP | Turkey inaugurated on Saturday the largest foreign-run military training centre in Somalia, where local troops are due to take over the protection of a nation threatened by Shabaab Islamist attacks. Somalia’s fragile government and institutions, including its national army, are backed by the African Union’s …
Read More »At least 20 soldiers killed in Somalia jihadist attack
Mogadishu, Somalia | AFP | Shabaab jihadists attacked an army base in the southern Somali town of Barire on Friday, killing at least 20 soldiers and looting equipment, local sources said. The assault on the Somali National Army military camp in Barire, around 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of the …
Read More »Burundi radio station suspended for criticising killings
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | The director of a Burundi radio station said Friday his outlet is being temporarily taken off air after criticising the government over the killings of dozens of refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). CCIB FM+, which is run by Burundi’s chamber of commerce, …
Read More »Libya strongman asks Europe for helicopters to fight migration
Rome, Italy | AFP | Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar asked Europe for helicopters and drones to fight rampant migration on the southern border of the war-wracked country. The request came after the commander, who backs a Tobruk-based administration that controls much of the east and south of Libya, travelled …
Read More »US watchdog highlights flawed training of Afghan forces
Washington, United States | AFP | US efforts to train Afghanistan’s security forces are being hampered by slapdash instruction, shoddy oversight and governance failures, a watchdog warned Thursday as America sends thousands more troops to the war-torn nation. American assistance to the Afghan army and police has topped $70 billion since …
Read More »At least 25 dead in South Sudan oil state battle
Juba, South Sudan | AFP | An outbreak of fighting between government and rebel forces in South Sudan’s oil-producing north left at least 25 people dead, a state official said Tuesday. The clash between rebels loyal to exiled former deputy president Riek Machar and government forces occurred early Monday in …
Read More »Tunisia offers to mediate in Libya crisis
Tunis, Tunisia | AFP | Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar visited neighbouring Tunisia on Monday for talks with President Beji Caid Essebsi, who offered to act as a mediator between rival Libyan factions. Libya, which plunged into chaos after the ouster and killing of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, has two …
Read More »Iraq set to expel 500 wives of IS jihadists
Baghdad, Iraq | AFP | Iraq moved 500 wives of Islamic State group jihadists to a detention centre in preparation to deport them after they were captured along with 800 children, a councillor said Monday. The women and children were detained in Iraq’s second city Mosul, capital of Nineveh province and …
Read More »Libya, Italy net 5,000 migrants in a week
Tripoli, Libya | AFP | Libya’s coastguard has rescued over 3,000 migrants aiming to cross the Mediterranean to Europe in the past week, while Italy picked up another 2,000 in recent days, official and reports said Sunday. Though the numbers attempting the dangerous journey have dropped off significantly in recent months, …
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