Algerian court acquits ex-Gitmo detainee

A criminal court in Algeria acquitted former Guantánamo Bay detainee Mustafa Hemlili of charges of counterfeiting and affiliation with a militant group.

Niger: uranium interests behind coup d’etat?

A race between French and Chinese uranium interests—and a possible uranium deal with Iran—may be behind the coup d’etat that topped President Mamadou Tandja in Niger.

Morocco orders closure of opposition newspaper

Moroccan authorities ordered closed the independent news magazine Le Journal Hebdomadaire following what editors and press freedom advocates call a long campaign of harassment.

AQIM-FARC “narco-terrorism” charged in al-Qaeda conspiracy indictments

The Justice Department has announced charges against three purported al-Qaeda militants for arranging a cocaine deal with an infiltrator posing as a FARC representative.

Hunger-striking Nobel nominee seeks return to Western Sahara

Western Sahara independence activist Aminatou Haidar is on hunger-strike at an airport in Spain, demanding the right to return to her country without acknowledging Moroccan sovereignty over it.

Algeria sentences Gitmo detainee seeking asylum in US

An Algerian court sentenced in absentia Guantánamo detainee Ahmed Belbacha to 20 years in prison. Belbacha says he fears torture in Algeria and has requested asylum in the US.

Algerian court acquits two ex-Gitmo detainees

An Algerian court acquitted former two Guantánamo detainees. Their lawyer said that while the men admitted to involvement in theft and drug trafficking, they denied any link with terrorism.

Riots rock Algiers as US woos regime for “counter-terrorism”

Hundreds of protesters clashed with riot police in Algiers as US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Vicki Huddleston arrived for talks on closer counter-terrorism ties.

Niger: dissident rebel factions repudiate Tuareg peace deal

Dissident rebel factions in Niger are refusing to honor a peace deal brokered between the government and Tuareg guerillas by Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi.

Western Sahara dominates UN decolonization meeting

The issue of Western Sahara, Africa’s last colony, was discussed in depth at the UN’s Decolonization Committee meeting in New York this week.

World Bank, EU, NATO certify “constitutional rule” in Mauritania

The World Bank, EU and NATO have all restored full ties to Mauritania—despite charges of fraud in elections claimed by coup leader Gen. Ould Abdel Aziz.

Mauritania scores first suicide bombing

Mauritania registered its first suicide bombing when an attacker presumably linked to al-Qaeda blew himself up outside the French Embassy in Nouakchott, injuring two security guards.