The leaders of nine Mediterranean and southern European countries called Friday for a “significant increase” in the EU’s efforts to tackle the thorny issue of migration at its roots, in origin and transit countries.Italian far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that front-line countries were struggling to deal with arrivals now, but without “structural” solutions from …

Malta summit urges EU to stop migration at sourceFri, 29 Sep 2023 18:54:14 GMT Read More »

Voting ended on Friday in Eswatini’s legislative elections, which are unlikely to bring substantial change to the politics of Africa’s last absolute monarchy despite recent and deadly pro-democracy protests.Polling stations started to close at around 7:00 pm (1700 GMT) and counting began in the impoverished southern African nation, where King Mswati III has ruled with …

Polls close in parliamentary vote in Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarchyFri, 29 Sep 2023 18:28:47 GMT Read More »

Libya’s prosecutor general has ordered the arrest of four more officials, bringing to 12 the number held as part of an inquiry into this month’s flood that killed thousands.Flooding caused by hurricane-strength Storm Daniel tore through eastern Libya on September 10, leaving at least 3,893 people dead and thousands more missing.The seaside city of Derna …

Four more officials held after Libya flood disasterFri, 29 Sep 2023 17:17:50 GMT Read More »

The wife of Gabon’s ousted president Ali Bongo Ondimba has been charged with “money laundering” and other offences, the public prosecutor said Friday, a month after her husband was toppled in a coup.Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Valentin, who is Franco-Gabonese, and one of the couple’s sons have been accused by the coup leader of having pulled …

Gabon charges ousted president’s wife with ‘money laundering’Fri, 29 Sep 2023 16:01:33 GMT Read More »

The leaders of nine Mediterranean and southern European countries met Friday in Malta with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for talks focused on the thorny issue of migration.The summit comes a day after EU interior ministers finally made headway on new rules for how the bloc handles asylum seekers and irregular migrants.Officials said …

EU’s Mediterranean leaders meet on migrationFri, 29 Sep 2023 13:19:29 GMT Read More »

The jailed leader of Tunisian opposition party Ennahdha, Rached Ghannouchi, 82, began a hunger strike on Friday to protest his detention and express support for other “political prisoners”, his party said.A court in the North African country sentenced Ghannouchi to one year in prison on terrorism-related charges in May following his arrest the month before, …

Jailed Tunisia opposition chief begins hunger strikeFri, 29 Sep 2023 13:12:07 GMT Read More »

Voters in Eswatini cast their ballots on Friday in legislative elections that despite recent and deadly pro-democracy protests are unlikely to change the politics of Africa’s last absolute monarchy.More than 500,000 people are registered to vote in the impoverished southern African nation, where King Mswati III has ruled with an iron fist for 37 years.Some …

Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, votes for parliamentFri, 29 Sep 2023 11:50:37 GMT Read More »

Seven soldiers were killed Thursday in Niger’s southwest in an attack by suspected jihadists, and five others died in a traffic accident while trying to respond to the assault.The deaths come as former colonial power France prepares to withdraw an anti-terrorism force stationed in the country at the request of its new military leaders, who …

7 Nigerien soldiers killed in jihadist attack, 5 more in ensuing accidentFri, 29 Sep 2023 08:21:23 GMT Read More »

When he seized power, Captain Ibrahim Traore set himself “two to three months” to improve security in Burkina Faso, but one year on, jihadist attacks still plague the West African nation.The interim president said at the time of the September 30, 2022 putsch that resolving “several small logistical problems” as well as “consideration” within the …

Burkina still battling insecurity one year after coupFri, 29 Sep 2023 07:05:56 GMT Read More »

The Malian army has reported attacks on three of its posts in the north, west and centre of the country, with an Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group claiming responsibility for two and a separatist grouping claiming the other.The army said on social media that its camp in Dioura, in the central Mopti region, was hit by a …

Mali military reports three attacks on army postsThu, 28 Sep 2023 21:15:19 GMT Read More »