Jihadi violence takes root in Benin, its spread worries West Africa

The jihadist violence, which has wracked much of West Africa’s inland Sahel region for more than the past seven years, is now spreading into the coastal states with Benin having recorded more attacks than any other coastal state in the region, experts say. Violence by extremists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group in […]

Tunisia prolongs state of emergency for an additional month

President Kais Saied Wednesday extended for one month the state of emergency in place since November 2015 after a suicide attack killed a dozen of forces from the presidential guard. The office of the President said the measure is starting as of April 30. The state of emergency, in place since late November 2015, has […]

Gabon coup leader sworn in as ‘transitional’ head of state

General Brice Oligui Nguema, who led a coup last week that toppled Gabon’s 55-year-old dynasty, was sworn in as transitional president this Monday September 4. He pledged to hold “free… (and) transparent elections” after an unspecified period and “to amnesty prisoners of conscience.” The group known as the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of […]