Africa

Rival forces in South Sudan conflict have resumed offensives in Upper Nile region, forcing humanitarian organisations to relocate some members following a surge in violent clashes in Unity, Jonglei and parts of Central Equatoria.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) issued a statement confirming resumption of the offensives, pointing out that having a devastating impact on thousands of civilians and on humanitarian agencies trying to provide desperately needed assistance to vulnerable people.

The UN Security Council on Wednesday condemned “in the strongest terms” Tuesday’s attack on peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR), which left one Rwandan soldier killed and eight others injured.

In a press statement, the Security Council also condemned the violence that followed the launch of a joint operation by the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the CAR (Minusca) and CAR security forces on Sunday, which was aimed at disarming and arresting elements of armed groups in the 3rd district of Bangui, the capital city.

The Libya’s UN-backed government said Tuesday that the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has reiterated his support for the political process and efforts to unite the Libyan army.

“On the sidelines of the recent Arab Summit in Saudi Arabia, the Head of the Presidency Council (of the Government) discussed with the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, bilateral

Libya and Romania signed in Tripoli a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build a shared security deliberations basis between the two countries.

The foreign minister of Libya Presidential Council government Mohammed Sayala said the visit of his Romanian counterpart is very significant as it comes before Romania chairs the EU, adding that the European country will do its best to support Libya.

Tunisia officially decided to reopen its consulate in the Libyan capital Tripoli after nearly a three-year closure following the kidnapping of Tunisian diplomats, the Libyan Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

The European Union is set to sign a strategic partnership agreement on energy with Egypt, 22-24 April, a press release by the European Commission read.

European Climate and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete will arrive to Cairo Sunday and is expected to meet Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

South Sudan says its military chief has died during a visit to Egypt and after a “short illness.”

General James Ajongo had taken over the role a year ago after Paul Malong was fired and put under house arrest.

Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the ongoing Crans Montana Forum in Dakhla, President of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab Region Ynja Khattat has urged Algeria to cooperate in settling the Western Sahara conflict.

Khattat discussed the recent meeting between the Moroccan delegation and Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General Horst Kohler in regards to the Western Sahara question, in his interview with Le360.

UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) held discussions with the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tunis on a strategic plan to support economic and social sectors in Libya over the next two years, the mission said in a statement on Friday.

“The Government of Libya and the United Nations discussed new way forward to support Libya in a round of consultations on the United Nations Strategic Framework (UNSF) for the period 2019-2020 and Country Program Documents of UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF,” it said.