AFP Africa

The UN peacekeeping mission in Mali on Sunday said it had brought forward its withdrawal from a base in the north of the country due to deteriorating security conditions.During the operation, three of its soldiers were wounded when they came under fire, the force added a few hours later.The MINUSMA force’s departure from Ber comes …

UN force in Mali quits base early over insecuritySun, 13 Aug 2023 22:33:16 GMT Read More »

The leader of Niger’s military regime is ready to consider a diplomatic solution to its stand-off with West African bloc ECOWAS, the head of a religious delegation of mediators said Sunday.The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has not ruled out using force against the army officers who toppled Niger’s elected leader Mohamed Bazoum …

Niger regime leader ‘open to explore diplomacy’: mediatorsSun, 13 Aug 2023 20:14:22 GMT Read More »

Temperatures in Morocco have for the first time on record topped 50 degrees Celsius (120 Fahrenheit), the North African country’s meteorological service said Sunday amid a scorching heatwave.The meteorological station in the southern coastal city of Agadir recorded on Friday the new national record of 50.4C, said the General Directorate of Meteorology.Morocco has experienced a …

Morocco breaks heat recordSun, 13 Aug 2023 16:30:29 GMT Read More »

“Crossing the Channel, it’s playing with our lives,” Hajji Mahmud acknowledged.But despite the dangers, the Afghan migrant remained determined to attempt the crossing, even after the deaths of at least six of his countrymen early Saturday when their vessel sank.In the makeshift camp at Loon-Plage on the north coast of France, some 15 tents were …

Migrants on France’s Channel coast undeterred by latest deathsSun, 13 Aug 2023 08:00:45 GMT Read More »

Sudan’s war has left university lecturer Ali Seif without pay for months. To make ends meet, he has turned to making soap in his room at a makeshift displacement camp.Out of work as fighting rages between the forces of rival generals, many Sudanese have been forced to find creative ways to support themselves and their …

Sudanese start small businesses to survive warSun, 13 Aug 2023 03:00:55 GMT Read More »

Niger’s detained president was seen by his doctor on Saturday, his entourage said amid mounting concern for his condition, while Nigerian religious leaders met the officers who seized power last month to try to defuse the crisis.The Muslim leaders visited the capital Niamey with the blessing of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, head of the West …

Detained Niger president seen by doctor: entourageSat, 12 Aug 2023 20:42:57 GMT Read More »

West African leaders deferred a crisis meeting due on Saturday on dealing with the coup in Niger after approving the deployment of a “standby force to restore constitutional order” as soon as possible.The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc had approved a military force to reinstate elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who was …

West African bloc scraps crisis meeting on Niger coupSat, 12 Aug 2023 10:20:48 GMT Read More »

Thousands of Niger coup supporters took to the streets on Friday to protest against plans by West African nations to deploy a military force to the country, as a key regional meeting on a possible intervention was scrapped.ECOWAS had approved a “standby force” to reinstate elected President Mohamed Bazoum, with the EU’s top diplomat expressing …

Niger coup supporters protest West African military forceSat, 12 Aug 2023 02:30:17 GMT Read More »

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said the body’s mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo is entering its “final phase”, but warned the situation in the conflict-hit country has “deteriorated sharply”.In a report addressed to the UN Security Council, Guterres delivered a stark assessment of the turmoil in the DRC and set out a plan …

UN mission in DR Congo entering ‘final phase’: GuterresFri, 11 Aug 2023 23:47:26 GMT Read More »

West African nations on Friday suspended a key military meeting on the crisis in Niger, a day after saying they would muster a “standby” force in their bid to reinstate the country’s deposed leader.Fears also mounted for elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who was ousted by members of his guard on July 26, with reports saying …

West African countries suspend key military meeting on Niger coupFri, 11 Aug 2023 21:19:00 GMT Read More »