Africa

Untangling the conflict in Libya

Libya's conflict has taken a new twist after an attempt by eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar to seize the capital, Tripoli, crumbled rapidly in recent weeks. WHO'S BEEN FIGHTING WHO? Haftar's…

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Coronavirus cases surge in Libya

The number of coronavirus cases has surged in Libya this month, with health authorities blaming the biggest outbreak in a southern city on the repatriation of nationals stranded abroad. The National Centre…

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Russian hiring of Syrians to fight in Libya accelerated in May

A Russian drive to recruit Syrians to fight in Libya for militia leader Khalifa Haftar accelerated in May when hundreds of mercenaries were signed up, five Syrian opposition sources and…

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Russia backs Egyptian peace initiative for Libya

Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that a new Egyptian peace initiative for Libya must be the main forum to decide the future of the country. Calling proposals put forward…

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UAE says Egypt initiative for Libya boosts peace track

The United Arab Emirates supports a new Egyptian peace initiative for Libya as a move towards a ceasefire and political solution, a senior official said on Monday. The UAE, Egypt…

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“Numerous” reports of looting in Libyan towns

The United Nations has received "numerous" reports of looting and destruction in two towns outside Tripoli retaken by the forces of Libya's internationally recognised government, it said on Sunday. Forces…

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Libya’s NOC confirms production resumed at southern oilfield

Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) on Sunday confirmed that some production has resumed at the giant Sharara oilfield in the south of the country, it said in a statement. Two…

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Libya – A ‘Syria’ in the making in the Mediterranean

A Russian drive to recruit Syrians to fight in Libya for militia leader Khalifa Haftar accelerated in May when hundreds of mercenaries were signed up, five Syrian opposition sources and…

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Egypt proposes new Libyan ceasefire as Haftar forces continue retreat

Libya's internationally recognised government attempted new advances on Saturday against the forces of retreating eastern commander Khalifa Haftar, who stood by in Cairo as his ally, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah…

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Pipeline to Libya’s Sharara reopened, but field remains closed

The Hamada pipeline running from Libya's Sharara oilfield has been reopened, the Petroleum Facilities Guards said in a short statement on Friday, after it was closed during a blockade on…

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UN-backed Libyan govt forces reclaim stronghold of Tarhuna of rival Haftar

Forces loyal to Libya's UN-recognised government celebrated another victory against rival strongman Khalifa Haftar Friday after overrunning his last western stronghold, launchpad of an abortive 14-month assault on Tripoli. The…

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French forces kill Al-Qaeda chief in north Africa

French forces have killed al Qaeda's North Africa chief Abdelmalek Droukdel in northern Mali, Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said on Friday. "On June 3, French army forces with the…

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Libyan Army liberates Qasr Bin Ghashir town near Tripoli

The Libyan Army liberated Qasr Bin Ghashir town, south of the capital Tripoli from warlord Khalifa Haftar's militias. On Thursday, Libyan Army announced the complete liberation of the capital Tripoli,…

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South Africa sees record rise in coronavirus cases

South Africa has recorded 3,267 coronavirus cases in 24 hours, the biggest increase since the pandemic hit the country. Africa’s biggest industrial power now has a total of 40,792 infections,…

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Turkey vows more support to secure gains in Libya conflict

President Tayyip Erdogan vowed on Thursday to ramp up Turkey's support for its ally in Libya to lock in recent military gains, and promised joint exploration for oil at sea following talks…

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UPDATED: Libya’s GNA says it regained control of capital Tripoli

Libya's internationally recognised government regained control of Tripoli on Thursday, driving eastern forces out of the capital after a year-long battle in which foreign powers poured in arms and fighters.…

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Senior Libyan official arrives in Moscow for talks

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeg of Libya's internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) arrived in Moscow for talks on Wednesday, the RIA news agency reported. The eastern-based Libyan National Army…

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New Ebola outbreak detected in northwest DR Congo, WHO supporting response

A new outbreak of the Ebola virus disease has been identified in Wangata health zone, Mbandaka, in Équateur province, according to the country's Government. The announcement comes as a long,…

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Reports that GNA forces took over Tripoli’s international airport

After months of fighting, forces loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA) of Fayez Sarraj's are reported to have taken full control of Tripoli’s international airport according to Italian…

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Coronavirus cases in Libya go up to 118

Another 19 new cases of Coronavirus and one death were reported by Libya’s National Centre for Disease Control NCDC over the last two days. There has also been one new…

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Civilians killed by shelling in Libyan capital

A grassy area used as a park in the Libyan capital Tripoli was hit by shelling on Sunday that left five people dead and 12 others wounded, an official and a…

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Who is involved in Libya’s conflict and why

The conflict between Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA), recognised by the United Nations, and the eastern-based forces of Khalifa Haftar has become a cauldron for foreign rivals. This explains how…

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Warning Russian jets in Libya present broader threat for Mediterranean region

U.S. Africa Command flatly rejected Russian claims that Moscow did not deploy fighter jets to Libya, saying Friday that the 14 aircraft flown in reflect Russia’s longer term goal to…

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Migration, Military developments and Coronavirus discussed between Al-Sarraj and Conte

Fayez Al-Sarraj in a phone call with the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on discussed the ongoing developments in Libya, both in military and health fields as the Tripoli offensive…

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Russia denies U.S. claim that Libyan banknotes seized in Malta are counterfeit

Libyan currency worth over $1 billion which was printed in Moscow and seized by Malta is not counterfeit, Russia's foreign ministry said on Saturday in response to U.S. claims. The…

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Africa hit by sustained community spread of coronavirus

Cases of community transmission of the new coronavirus are growing in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia, and a new strategy for testing is needed to prevent this, the head of the…

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Malta and Libya agree to set up a coordination unit in each country to assist in operations against illegal migration

During an official visit to Libya, Prime Minister Robert Abela met Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord Fayez al-Sarraj and discussed the unprecedented challenges and disproportionate pressures which…

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Egyptian medics arrested after complaining about Egypt’s coronavirus response

At dusk on April 10, police entered an apartment in Qalyubia province, north of Cairo, and arrested ophthalmologist Hany Bakr. The reason, his lawyer Aisha Nabil said, was an April…

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Libya records new COVID-19 death as confirmed cases increase to 79

The Head of the Sabha quarantine centre Ali Al-Saidi said the first COVID-19 patient in the southern Libyan city died, bringing the total of deaths to four, as the National…

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Libya’s losses from oil blockade almost $5 billion

Libya's cumulative losses from the current oil blockade imposed by forces allied to eastern commander Khalifa Haftar since Jan. 19 have neared $5 billion, National Oil Corporation (NOC) said in…

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Russia insists it has not sent military personnel to Libya

Russia has not sent military personnel to Libya and the Russian upper house of parliament has not received a request to approve such a dispatch, Interfax on Wednesday cited Vladimir…

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US confirms Russia sent jets to ‘mercenaries’ in Libya

The U.S. military said on that Russia has deployed fighter aircraft to Libya to support Russian mercenaries fighting for eastern forces, adding to concerns of a new escalation in the conflict. "Russian…

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Islamic State claims responsibility behind explosion in Southern Libyan town

The Islamic State said on Monday it was behind a blast in a small town in southern Libya on Saturday, the militant group's first attack in the country for at…

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Russian fighters flown out of western Libya after Haftar retreat

Russian fighters in Libya were flow out a town south of Tripoli by their Libyan allies after retreating from frontlines at the capital, the town's mayor said. The reported departure…

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The Tripoli mirage

by Tonio Galea The Libyan National Army is enduring its worst days yet since launching an all-out assault on Tripoli to topple the Government of National Accord, more than…

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Libya: Haftar calls on his forces to rally against Turkey

Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar called on his forces on Saturday to rally against Turkey, which has helped his Tripoli-based rivals turn the tide of a military conflict around the capital. Recent…

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Libya’s Tripoli government retakes more areas of capital

Libya's internationally recognised government retook parts of southern Tripoli on Friday from the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) of Khalifa Haftar, whose 13-month campaign to seize the capital is under…

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African coronavirus cases surpass 99,000

Coronavirus cases in Africa have gone up to 99,062 in the morning hours of Friday, said an update by Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC ). Some 3,082…

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UN investigates reports of Russia-made warplanes in Libya

Rival factions in Libya’s civil war both claim that Russia has transferred six MiG-29 fighters and two Su-24 attack jets to Al Jufra airbase in central Libya to support the…

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Fears of escalation in Libya

Turkey warned on Thursday against any attacks on its interests in Libya by Khalifa Haftar's forces after his Libyan National Army (LNA) threatened to respond to recent military setbacks by striking Turkish positions…

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Coronavirus situation in Egypt deteriorating

Egyptian doctors are increasingly at odds with their own government on the country’s coronavirus outbreak, pleading for protections and a full lockdown even as the authorities urge people to learn…

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Russian, Turkish foreign ministers back Libya ceasefire

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu backed an immediate ceasefire in Libya during a phone call on Thursday, Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.…

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U.N. envoy warns on flood of weapons and mercenaries fueling conflict in Libya

The acting U.N. Libya envoy urged the Security Council on Tuesday to pressure foreign actors to stop helping the North African country's warring parties, warning that the flood of weapons and mercenaries…

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Haftar forces to perform tactical withdrawal in southern Tripoli

Spokesperson of warlord Haftar, Ahmed Al-Mismari, said that their forces will perform “a tactical withdrawal” from some frontlines in southern Tripoli, just hours after losing the strategic Watiya airbase to…

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Libya’s GNA recaptures strategic al-Watiya airbase

Libya's internationally-recognised government says it has captured the strategic al-Watiya airbase from fighters loyal to renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar. Military spokesman Mohamed Gnunu said in a Twitter post on Monday the…

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Pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden on British tanker deterred

Armed pirates attacked a British-flagged chemical tanker in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday but were repulsed, the ship's manager Stolt Tankers has said. The pirates approached the Stolt Apal…

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Reports that mercenaries from Libya withdrew to Malta

Western mercenaries linked with two Dubai-based companies arrived in Libya with plans to assist forces loyal to eastern-based military commander Khalifa Haftar in their year-long offensive to capture the capital,…

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Photo story: Health workers in Kenya entertained

Kenyan nurses, midwives and other frontline workers working at the Infectious Disease Unit at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital interract after participating at a Zumba training session…

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Royal Air Maroc mulls state loan guarantee to withstand coronavirus losses

Morocco's Royal Air Maroc (RAM) may seek a state loan guarantee to help cover June expenses as it struggles with $5 million in daily losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic,…

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Egypt to loan EgyptAir $127 mln to help it through coronavirus crisis

Egypt's government will lend EgyptAir 2 billion Egyptian pounds ($127.39 million) due to the impact of the coronavirus on its operations, the finance ministry said. A member of the…

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Turkish Petroleum seeking Libya exploration permit

Turkish Petroleum (TPAO) has applied to Libya for an exploration permit in the eastern Mediterranean, Turkey's Anadolu Agency reported. Exploration will begin as soon as the process is completed. Turkish Energy Minister…

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Kenya closes borders to Tanzania and Somalia over coronavirus

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday banned movement across the country’s borders with Tanzania and Somalia to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. He exempted cargo trucks but said…

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Shelling kills two at shelter for displaced people in Tripoli

Shelling killed two people on Saturday, the emergency services said, at a displaced people’s shelter in a part of the Libyan capital Tripoli that has been under bombardment by eastern…

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US offers $6.5 million to help Libya fight Covid-19

The United States has revealed plans to contribute an additional amount of $6.5 million to Libya as part of its support efforts to assist the health authorities in the country…

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Fugitive alleged Rwanda’s genocide leading figure arrested in France

One of the world’s most wanted fugitives Félicien Kabuga, who is alleged to have been a leading figure in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda – was arrested…

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WHO study shows virus could infect more than 200 million in Africa

The new coronavirus could kill 150,000 people in Africa in a year unless urgent action is taken, according to a WHO modelling study that says nearly a quarter of a…

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EU supports Horn of Africa region to the tune of €105m as pandemic worsens humanitarian situation

The EU is providing an additional €105.5 million to countries in the Horn of Africa as the coronavirus pandemic risks worsening the humanitarian situation across the region where many continue…

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