Africa
Sudan: mass rape by army in Darfur
Sudanese army forces raped more than 200 women and girls in an organized attack on the north Darfur town of Tabit in October, Human Rights Watch charges.
Tag: Sahel
Africa
Sahara drug trade funds Boko Haram insurgency
Traffickers have established a dope-for-guns pipeline across the Sahel and Sahara, integrating Boko Haram into drug-smuggling networks that stretch to Asia.
North Africa
Mali: Tuareg autonomy at issue in new fighting
UN "peacekeepers" have been drawn into fighting between Tuareg separatist rebels and pro-government paramilitaries as northern Mali remains divided.
Africa
Chad to fight Boko Haram in Cameroon
Advance units of a thousands-strong Chadian intervention force arrived in Cameroon to fight Boko Haram rebels. A critical oil pipeline passes through the war-torn border.
North Africa
Demand Mauritania release anti-slavery activists
Amnesty International called for the release of three anti-slavery activists imprisoned in Mauritania, including UN Human Rights Prize recipient Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid.
North Africa
Mauritania: death sentence for blasphemy
Blogger Cheikh Ould Mohamed of Mauritania was sentenced to death for apostasy after a court convicted him of "speaking lightly of the Prophet Mohammed" on websites.
Africa
ICC halts Darfur probe; Bashir threatens rebels
The International Criminal Court suspended its Darfur investigation, citing UN inaction in the case, as President Omar al-Bashir accused rebel leaders of being foreign "agents."
Africa
North Nigeria: 400,000 displaced in ‘urgent need’
More than 400,000 in northeastern Nigeria have been forced to flee their homes due to Boko Haram violence in recent weeks, and are in "urgent need" of assistance.
Africa
Burkina Faso: regime to identify Sankara remains
In a bid to win popular support, the interim regime in Burkina Faso has pledged a new investigation to verify the burial place of slain revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara.
Africa
Boko Haram seizes five Nigerian towns
Boko Haram is quickly seizing more territory in Nigeria's northeast and now threatens the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, sending thousands fleeing into Cameroon and Niger.
North Africa
Sudan arming Libyan Dawn rebels?
The Libyan government—now exiled to the eastern city of Tobruk—formally accused Sudan of smuggling weapons to the Islamist-led rebel alliance that controls Tripoli.
North Africa
Mali: French pursue jihadis; talks open with MNLA
France expands military operations across the Sahel to chase down jihadist insurgents, as Mali opens peace talks with Tuareg separatists that have seized much of the country.