Algeria: Regime ignores calls for smooth political transition, insists on its own unpopular roadmap
In a message published this week by the state news agency APS, Interim head of state Abdelkader Bensalah repeated the same arguments put forward by army chief General Gaid Salah on the urgency of holding presidential elections, “whatever the cost and as quickly as...
Sahel: 150 children killed in Mali violence in six months
Bamako, Aug 13, 2019 – UN child protection body UNICEF warned on Tuesday children in Mali faced rising violence with more than 150 killed in the first half of the year in jihadist and ethnic attacks. “More than 150 children were killed in the first half of...
Sahel: Red Cross suspends operations in Timbuktu, Mali, as violence escalates
Aug 6, 2019 – Twin attacks in Mali have killed four people, including two Malian soldiers, security sources said Tuesday, as the International Committee of the Red Cross suspended activities in Timbuktu due to “growing insecurity”. A gendarme was...
Egypt: Carnage in Cairo after blast killed 20 people
Cairo, Aug 5, 2019 – A huge blast which killed 20 people in Cairo was caused by a speeding car packed with explosives, Egyptian officials said Monday as witnesses described carnage. The car was driving against the traffic when it smashed into three other...
Libya: Warlord Khalifa Hartar pursues attacks on Misrata as death toll in Tripoli reaches 1,100
Tripoli, Aug 6, 2019 – Forces loyal to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar said they launched air strikes early Tuesday against an airbase in third city Misrata held by government loyalists. “Our air force carried out several raids against the Misrata airbase,...
Algeria: court issues arrest warrant on Khaled Nezzar, ex-General accused of alleged mass killings in the 1990s
Algiers, Aug 6, 2019 – An Algerian court has issued an arrest warrant against a former defence minister and army chief, along with his son, for alleged “conspiracy”, state television reported Tuesday. The warrant against Khaled Nezzar follows a...
Tunisia braces for snap presidential election
Tunis, Aug 2, 2019 – Presidential hopefuls in Tunisia began registering their candidacies on Friday for snap September polls called after the death of 92-year-old leader Beji Caid Essebsi. Eight would-be candidates, including media magnate Nabil Karoui,...
Libya: Khalifa Haftar’s army kills 42 civilians in Morzuk
Tripoli, Aug 5, 2019 – At least 42 people were killed and dozens wounded in an air strike targeting a town hall meeting in southern Libya, a local official and the UN-recognised government said Monday, accusing forces of military strongman Khalifa Haftar. The...
Libyan civilian plane escapes bombing at Mitiga Airport in Tripoli
Tripoli, Aug 5, 2019 – A Libyan airliner has narrowly escaped being hit by incoming fire as it landed at war-torn capital Tripoli’s sole functioning airport, aviation officials said. “The crew on the flight from Benghazi, which was carrying 124...
Egypt: Scores killed in car collision in Cairo
Cairo, Aug 5, 2019 – At least 20 people have been killed when a speeding car driving against traffic crashed into three others causing a huge explosion in Cairo, the Egyptian health ministry said Monday. The car collision happened just before midnight Sunday...
Tunisia: Army kills two insurgents near Bou Amrane
Two armed alleged jihadists have been shot dead in an “anti-terrorist” operation led by national guard and army units in southern Tunisia, the interior ministry said Saturday. The two “terrorists” were killed in the mountainous area of Orbata...
Algerian people continue to protest, considering civil disobedience to up pressure on military regime
(By Amal Belalloufi with Aymeric Vincenot) – Algerians descended on the capital in huge numbers Friday and called for “civil disobedience” for the first time in their months-long anti-regime campaign, despite a heavy police presence. “Civil...
Algeria: Military command keeps war veteran Lakhdar Bouregaa in prison for his political views
Algiers, Aug 1, 2019 – Algeria’s judiciary has refused to provisionally release a well-known independence war veteran detained for allegedly insulting the army, his lawyers said. Lakhdar Bouregaa, 86, was arrested at the end of June for “insulting a...
Algerian military chief Gaid Salah rejects demands for appeasement, wants his rules only
Algiers, July 30, 2019 – Algeria’s powerful army chief Tuesday ruled out accepting any pre-conditions to launching talks to end the country’s political crisis, saying there was “no more time to lose”. Algerians have taken to the streets...
Libya: Fighting continues in Tripoli
Tripoli, July 30, 2019 – Rocket fire forced flights to be suspended and passengers evacuated at the Libyan capital’s airport, where a UN envoy warned civilian aircraft had come “perilously close” to being hit. Fighting has raged on...