A year has passed since Niger's dramatic coup. Life has become more dangerous and desperate

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — When a group of military officers appeared on state television in Niger one year ago to make a dramatic announcement of a coup, they said they deposed the West African nation's elected government for two key reasons: its security, and economic crises. But...

At least 26 villagers killed in latest violent attack in central Mali

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — At least 26 people were killed after an armed group attacked a village in Mali’s central region, near the border with Burkina Faso, a government official said Monday, the latest violent attack in the conflict-hit region. The assailants attacked villagers as...

Pakistan says it arrested an al-Qaida leader who was a close aide to Osama bin Laden

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan counterterrorism police have arrested an al-Qaida leader who was a close aide to Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, officials said Friday. Deputy inspector general of police Usman Gondal identified...

Terrorism and organized crime rampant in Sahel and spilling into West Africa coastal states, UN says

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Terrorism and organized crime by violent extremist groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State are a “pervasive threat” in Africa's volatile Sahel region and are spilling over to West Africa's coastal countries, the top U.N. envoy for the area warned Friday. ...

ICC convicts al-Qaida-linked leader of abusing prisoners in Mali

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The International Criminal Court on Wednesday convicted an al-Qaida-linked extremist leader of the religious persecution and torture of prisoners in Mali in 2012-13 when he headed the Islamic police in the historic desert city of Timbuktu. Al Hassan...

International Criminal Court convicts al-Qaida-linked extremist leader of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Mali

Expanding extremist groups in Africa fuel worries that they could attack the US or Western allies

GABORONE, Botswana (AP) — Violent extremist groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group are growing in size and influence across Africa, fueling worries that as they improve their tactics they could attack the U.S. or Western allies. U.S. defense and military officials...

International court unseals arrest warrant for Mali suspect accused of crimes in Timbuktu in 2012

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The International Criminal Court unsealed an arrest warrant Friday for a Malian accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the desert city of Timbuktu in 2012-13, where he is suspected of leading an al-Qaida-linked Islamic extremist group. ...

Jihadis from Africa’s Sahel have crossed into Nigeria’s north, a new report says. A lot is at stake

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Jihadi fighters who had long operated in Africa’s volatile Sahel region have settled in northwestern Nigeria after crossing from neighboring Benin, a report said Wednesday, the latest trend in the militants' movements to wealthier West African coastal nations. ...

Yemen's Houthi rebels launch boat-borne bomb attack against Greek-owned ship in Red Sea

ABOARD THE USS LABOON IN THE RED SEA (AP) — Yemen's Houthi rebels launched a boat-borne bomb attack against a commercial ship in the Red Sea on Wednesday, authorities said, the latest escalation despite a U.S.-led campaign trying to protect the vital waterway. The use of a boat...