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...

UN votes to end Iraq political mission established after 2003 US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously Friday to end the U.N. political mission in Iraq established in 2003 following the United States-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein to coordinate post-conflict humanitarian and reconstruction efforts, and to help...

Syria's main insurgent group blasts the US Embassy over its criticism of crackdown on protesters

IDLIB, Syria (AP) — The main insurgent group in rebel-held northwest Syria blasted the U.S. on Thursday over its criticism of a crackdown on protesters in areas outside government control. The group said Washington should instead respect protesters at American universities who have demonstrated...

Burkina Faso junta extends its transition term by 5 years

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The military leader of Burkina Faso will remain in office for another five years following the signing of a new charter after national consultations in the capital on Saturday. Civil society representatives, the security and defense forces and lawmakers in...

Protests against powerful group persist in Syria's last major rebel stronghold

IDLIB, Syria (AP) — Members of a powerful insurgent group in Syria 's rebel-held northwest fired into the air and beat protesters with clubs Friday, injuring some of them as protests intensified to demand the release of detainees and an end to the group's rule. Protests took place...