Africa

Tunisia’s new president pledged a rule of reconciliation and consensus as he took his oath Wednesday before the newly elected parliament to complete the country’s democratic transition. The inauguration of Beji Caid Essebsi, an 88-year-old political veteran, comes in a year in which Tunisians wrote a new constitution and elected …

Seven soldiers have been killed as clashes erupted in the centre of Libya’s main eastern city Benghazi on Thursday, with pro-government forces pushing to take the port district from Islamist militants. The fighting mirrors a wider struggle in the oil-producing North African state where two governments and parliaments, allied to …

Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi received Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal Thursday, at the Residence of State in Zeralda, Algiers. The audience was attended by Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, Minister of Energy Youcef Yousfi and Minister for Maghreb and African Affairs Abdelkader Messahel. The Tunisian president started a two-day state …

Algeria and Benin expressed satisfaction at the efforts of the international mediation, led by Algeria, for the resolution of the crisis in Mali, said Wednesday a joint statement issued at the end of the state visit of Beninese President Thomas

The Wednesday trial of ousted former president Mohamed Morsi for escaping Wadi El-Natrun Prison in January 2011 was postponed to 5 February, state media reported. The defence repeated its request to the Cairo Criminal Court for the introduction of new defendants and questioned the possibility that “Israeli elements” committed these …

The EU Wednesday warned South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and former vice president turned rebel leader Riek Machar that if they continue to violate the ceasefire mechanism or fail to finalise a political agreement, appropriate sanctions will need to be adopted by the international community. EU High Representative Federica Mogherini …

Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Habib Essid on Monday (February 2nd) announced the formation of a coalition government. The new cabinet is dominated by Nidaa Tounes but includes its rival Ennahda, as well as smaller parties. The announcement came after modifications were made to its initial formation after the main parliamentary blocs …

Egyptian Defence Minister Sedki Sobhi discussed regional security and “terrorism” with United States Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel over the phone on Tuesday evening. A readout of the phone call provided by the US Department of Defense said the top defence officials spoke to “exchange information about the security environment” …

A court in Egypt violated the country’s international human rights obligations by sentencing 183 men to death Monday for killing 13 policemen, the European Union said. “Today’s decision of a court in Egypt to sentence 183 defendants to death following a mass trial is in violation of Egypt’s international human …

Egypt President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Lebanese Mufti Abdul Latif Derian, and Grand Mufti of Egypt Shawqy Allam met on Tuesday to discuss extremist ideologies and the religious relations between Egypt and Lebanon. During their talks, Al-Sisi pointed out the importance of correcting religious discourse and re-defining the concepts and the …