Burkina Faso's state media says hundreds of rebels have been killed trying to seize vulnerable town

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Hundreds of rebels were killed as they tried to seize a town in northern Burkina Faso on Sunday, the state broadcaster reported, in one of the largest clashes in recent years in the West African nation under threat from fighters linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State. ...

An abducted German priest is freed in Mali, a year after being seized in the country's capital

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A German priest who was abducted by al-Qaida-linked rebels in Mali's capital in November 2022 has been released by his captors, a former colleague told The Associated Press on Monday. Church members in the capital of Bamako learned of the release of Rev....

A newly formed alliance between coup-hit countries in Africa’s Sahel is seen as tool for legitimacy

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Three West African nations led by military juntas met this week to strengthen a newly formed alliance described by some analysts on Friday as an attempt to legitimize their military governments amid coup-related sanctions and strained relations with neighbors. ...

Mali's leader says military has seized control of a rebel stronghold in the country's north

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Mali's military has seized control of the northern town of Kidal, marking the first time the army has held the Tuareg rebel stronghold in nearly a decade, state broadcaster ORTM reported Tuesday. Mohamed Maouloud Ramadan, a rebel spokesman based in neighboring...

Mali's leader says the military has seized control of the rebel stronghold town of Kidal after nearly a decade

Suspected Islamic extremists holding about 30 ethnic Dogon men hostage after bus raid, leader says

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Suspected Islamic extremists are holding about 30 men from the Dogon ethnic group hostage after ambushing several public transport buses in central Mali earlier this week, a community leader said Friday. Bocar Guindo said that armed men initially kidnapped about...

Kidal mayor says 14 people dead in northern Mali after series of drone strikes near rebel stronghold

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A series of drone strikes around the town of Kidal in northern Mali have killed at least 14 people in the rebel stronghold, the town's mayor said Tuesday. Kidal Mayor Arbakane Ag Abzayack told The Associated Press that the town's deputy mayor and a local...

Rights groups report widespread war crimes across Africa’s Sahel region with communities under siege

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Security forces and armed groups are committing war crimes against civilians in Africa's Sahel region, where extremists and rebels are increasingly fighting to exert dominance and control resources in communities, according to new reports from two rights groups. ...

UN peacekeepers have departed a rebel stronghold in northern Mali early as violence increases

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — United Nations peacekeepers on Tuesday withdrew from a rebel stronghold in northern Mali weeks earlier than planned because of growing insecurity, leaving the town in the hands of ethnic Tuareg separatists. Underscoring the uptick in violence, at least two...

U.N. peacekeepers in Mali withdraw from two bases in the north as fighting intensifies

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — United Nations peacekeepers started departing from two bases in northern Mali Monday as part of a forced withdrawal from the country amid increasing insecurity and a rise in attacks by Islamic extremists. The U.N. mission said it wanted to complete its...