Africa

The Year in Pictures – October: Ethiopian Prime Minister wins Nobel Peace Prize

A picture of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is displayed together with former Nobel Peace Prize winners at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway, 11 October 2019. Ethiopia's…

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Turkey readies to approve troop deployment to Libya, Merkel, Erdogan and Putin discuss diplomatic solution

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Monday said the motion signed by Turkish president on troops deployment to Libya is to be submitted in parliament today. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan…

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Turkish president, German chancellor discuss Syria, Libya

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss Syria and Libya, an official statement said on Sunday. According to the statement issued…

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Greece wants to be part of a solution in Libya

Greece wants to be included in UN-sponsored talks in January on the Libya conflict, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Sunday, as tensions escalate with neighbours Turkey over the issue. Libya…

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Russia and Turkey, not Europe, are setting agenda on Libya – Conte warns

Italy's prime minister Giuseppe Conte has warned that Russia and Turkey, and not Europe, are setting the agenda in their involvement in Libya's conflict. Euronews reports that in his end of…

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Libya’s parliament speaker: Turkish troops unwanted and destabilizing

Turkey’s willingness to dispatch troops to Libya is “unacceptable” and such a move would constitute unwanted meddling in the affairs of a friendly country, the speaker of the north…

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The Alan Kurdi in Pozzallo, first reports of Libyans fleeing their country by sea

On board there are 32 migrants, rescued on Christmas night by the ship of the NGO Sea Eye, off the Libyan coast. Reports indicate that the majority are Libyan nationals.…

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Turkey to speed up Libya troop deployment deal

Turkey’s foreign minister warned that the Libyan conflict risks sliding into chaos and becoming the next Syria, as he sought to speed up legislation to allow it to send troops…

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Reports of Turkey deploying Syrian fighters in Libya

Reports are emerging that Turkey started deploying Syrian rebels to support its allies in Tripoli. According to The National, videos posted on social media showed Syrian fighters claiming to…

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Libyan Army launches big offensive on Haftar’s forces near Tripoli Airport

The Libyan Army forces under the command of the government based in Tripoli carried out an all-out offensive on Khalifa Haftar's forces on Al-Ramla frontline in the vicinity of Tripoli…

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The Year in Photos – The Unknown Faces of 2019

A girl from the Mayfair convent primary school is covered in cloth while the clowns show continues by Dutch clowning group Africlown in Johannesburg, South Africa, 03 May 2019. Once…

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Little merry for retailers this Christmas: The Headlines – The Independent

The Independent speaks to GRTU CEO Abigail Mamo who said that the Christmas period has been slower than previous years, including 2008 when the EU was in recession. Mamo named…

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Erdogan confirms Turkey to send troops to Libya

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Turkey will send troops to Libya now that the north African country requested it, and he will present deployment legislation to the…

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Erdogan Gets Closer to Deploying Turkish Troops in Libya

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated that he’s getting ready to deploy Turkish troops in Libya to support the country’s internationally recognized government in Tripoli. Erdogan flew to Tunisia on Wednesday…

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Libya’s GNA asked Italy for weapons – al-Serraj

Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj, whose Tripoli-based administration is recognised by the United Nations, has confirmed that he asked Italy for weapons to repel the…

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US concerned with Russian mercenaries presence in Libya

The United States is “very concerned” about the intensification of the conflict in Libya, with a rising number of reported Russian mercenaries supporting Khalifa Haftar’s forces on the ground turning…

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Algeria’s Army Chief dies

Algerian state media says the country’s powerful army chief General Ahmed Gaid Salah has died, at a time of bitter political divisions over the military's dominant role in the major…

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West African states to halt use of CFA Franc and adopt single currency ECO

West Africa’s monetary union has agreed with France to rename its CFA franc the Eco and cut some of the financial links with Paris that have underpinned the region’s common…

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Algerian military chief General Ahmed Gaid Salah has died

Algeria's powerful army chief Ahmed Gaed Salah has died, the private Ennahar television reported on Monday, at a time of bitter political divisions over the military's dominant role in the…

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EU urges Libya’s warring factions to ‘cease all military actions’

The EU has called on forces allied to rival Libyan governments to return to the negotiating table and end the conflict by political means. But the entry of Russia and…

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Libya intercepts ship with Turkish crew

Libyan forces in the country's east say they have seized a ship with Turkish crew members amid tensions in the eastern Mediterranean over a contentious maritime border deal between…

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Greece’s Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in surprise visit to Libya

In a surprising move, Greece’s Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias went to Libya on Sunday, to meet with the leadership of the opposing to the Government of Tripoli forces, including Field…

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Erdogan says Turkey ready to increase military support, as Libyan National Army detects use of civilian flights from Turkey to carry military equipment (UPDATED)

President Erdogan said that Turkey will increase its military support to the internationally recognised government of Libya if necessary and will evaluate ground, air and marine options. Meanwhile the Libyan National…

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Merkel and Sisi affirmed keenness on unity and stability of Libya

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel affirmed on Thursday their keenness on the unity and stability of Libya. During a phone call between the two…

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Analysing the Turkish interest in Libya

It should never have been far from the headlines, since the suffering of the Libyan people has never really subsided following the collapse of the regime of Muammar Ghaddafi. Some…

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Rwandan official convicted on charges of genocide

Rwandan official Fabien Neretse became the first person to be convicted on charges of genocide, a Brussels court ruled on Thursday. According to Belgian newspaper De Standaard, the 71-year-old, who…

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A small royal statue of a sphinx uncovered in Egypt

A small royal statue of a sphinx was uncovered in Tuna El-Gebel archaeological area in Minya governorate, Upper Egypt. The newly discovered sphinx which is made of limestone was uncovered…

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Thousands in Lesotho ‘one step away from famine’ as drought impacts harvests and UN launches flash appeal

Devastating drought in the southern African nation of Lesotho has left more than half a million people facing severe food shortages and tens of thousands “one step away from famine”, UN…

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Violence escalates in Libya following Turkey pledge

Fighting has escalated in Libya as warplanes bombed targets in Tripoli and two other cities shortly after the UN-backed government in the capital announced on Thursday that it was deepening…

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At least 284 civilian deaths in Libya this year

The United Nations said Friday it is concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Libya with at least 284 civilian deaths this year. “This is an increase of more…

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United Nations insists that only a political solution can solve Libyan crisis

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) released a statement Friday on social media expressing concern over recent developments in Libya. "UNSMIL regrets the recent developments: military escalation, growing…

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France deploys armed drones in the Sahel region

American-built Reaper drones fitted with laser-guided missiles have been deployed as part of France's Barkhane mission in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, French Defense Minister Florence Parly announced. The drones…

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Libya’s GNA activates security deal with Turkey

Libya's Tripoli-based UN-recognized government on Thursday activated a new pact for military cooperation with Turkey, according to an official statement. The Cabinet of the Government of National Accord (GNA) held…

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Tebboune takes oath as new Algerian President

Newly elected Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (R) and interim president Abdelkader Bensalah (L) attend Tebboune’s swearing-in ceremony Algiers, Algeria, 19 December 2019. Tebboune was elected to a five-year term…

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Tripoli confident of Turkey’s military help, Egypt to supply Libya’s rebels with tanks

Libya’s Ambassador to Ankara has voiced confidence regarding military support from Turkey, saying President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will “give a helping hand.” “We believe that His Highness [President Erdogan] will…

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Africa-Europe Alliance: EU boosts pan-African Internet connectivity with €30 million

The EU has announced additional €30 million for the project “AfricaConnect”, that will provide affordable, high-capacity Internet for research and education networks across Africa. Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta…

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Heavy artillery heard in Tripoli, Erdogan and Putin to discuss Libya in January

The sound of heavy artillery ranged in southern Tripoli on Wednesday amid an offensive by eastern Libyan forces on the capital. A local source said mortar shells struck Salahuddin neighborhood…

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UN probing Canadian lobbying firm’s possible role in Sudanese troop deployment in Libya

A United Nations panel is investigating whether a Canadian lobbying firm has played a “direct role” in the illegal deployment of about 1,000 Sudanese troops to reinforce a Libyan warlord’s…

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Egypt asks UN to not register memoranda between Libya and Turkey

In a letter to UN Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council, Egypt has described the two memoranda signed between the government of Tripoli and Turkey as void and…

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Italy’s Di Maio holds talks with Libya’s rival leaders

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio has reiterated his country's backing for Libya's United Nations-recognised government during a visit to the capital, according to the Tripoli-based administration. In a statement…

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Turkish parliamentary committee approves security and military agreement with Libya

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish Parliament approved on Monday the memorandum of understanding signed last month between Libya and Turkey on security and military cooperation. According to Anadolu…

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Whistleblower alleges corruption, mismanagement and incompetence by Libya’s UNHCR

Libya’s United Nations Refugee Agency has been branded “the worst in the region” by a former staff member who has alleged corruption, mismanagement and incompetence in its dealings with tens…

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Turkey agrees to cooperation with Russia to end war in Libya

Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu has disclosed that Ankara had agreed to a Russian proposal on joint work to end the war in Libya. The Turkish minister explained during his participation…

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Egypt warns about foreign military intervention in Libya

Foreign powers should stop intervening in Libya, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said on Sunday, after Turkey indicated it was ready to send in troops to help Libya's UN-backed government. El-Sissi…

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Turkish President Erdogan affirms military support to Libya’s internationally recognised government

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was reported saying on Sunday that Turkey is ready to provide Tripoli any military support it needs after Ankara and Libya's internationally recognised government signed a…

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22 minors from lower-income families risk eviction from Malta: The Headlines – The Times

The Sunday Times reveals that several non-EU families have been told by Identity Malta that their children have to leave the country because parents do not make enough money to…

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Threat of Mediterranean war grows as Turkey renews military pledge to Libya

The threat of a military clash in the Mediterranean has drawn nearer following talks in which Turkey has underlined its willingness to send troops to Libya to defend the country’s…

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Fighting rages near Tripoli amid push by Haftar’s forces

After rebel Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar this week declared a “final” and decisive battle for the capital Tripoli, heavy fighting raged for a 24-hour period between his troops and militias…

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Libya has not yet requested Turkey to send troops – Foreign Minister Cavusoglu

Turkey will resolutely continue defending its legitimate rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean, said Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Saturday. Cavusoglu met UN-recognized Libya's Government of National Accord head…

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Conte to raise Libya’s concerns with Erdogan

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte said Friday at a press conference following the EU summit that he would be contacting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in relation to the latter's "mistaken…

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Libya’s Mufti hails security cooperation with Turkey, calls for their swift implementation

The Libyan Mufti Al-Sadiq Al-Gharyani has welcomed the memorandum of understanding in security and maritime cooperation with Turkey, calling for taking opportunity of it to defend legitimacy and thwart the…

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Algeria’s former PM Abdelmadjid Tebboune wins presidential election

Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Algeria's former prime minister, has won the country's presidential election, the electoral commission announced on Friday. Tebboune secured 58% of the vote, enough to prevent a second round.…

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Algeria’s contested presidential election sees historically low turn out

A record six in 10 Algerians abstained from voting in the country's presidential election that was firmly rejected by the nine-month-old protest movement. Just under 40 percent of registered voters…

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Libyan Commander Haftar orders forces to advance on Tripoli in ‘final battle’

Libyan Commander Khalifa Haftar urged his forces to advance towards the centre of Tripoli on Thursday evening in what he said would be the “final battle” for the capital.…

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United Nations documents 647 civilian casualties since start of Tripoli offensive

The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said it had documented 647 civilian casualties since last April, when Khalifa Haftar's offensive on Tripoli began In a letter by the UN…

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Libya air companies to resume flights from Mitiga Airport

Libyan Airlines has announced the resumption of flights from Mitiga International Airport from Thursday, December 12. Libyan Wings has also announced the resumption of flights from Mitiga Airport next Saturday,…

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Algerians head to polls amid opposition calls to boycott the vote

Algerians vote Thursday in the first elections since popular protests forced longtime leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika from power. The opposition, which is calling for voters to boycott the elections, held a protest in…

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