Africa (except North Africa)

21 Jan 2019; DW: An al Qaida-linked group has claimed responsibility for an attack that killed 10 UN peacekeepers from Chad in the north of Mali on Sunday.

In a statement posted on messaging platform Telegram, the Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen group said the attack was a response to Chadian President Idriss Deby's revival of diplomatic relations with Israel.

At least 25 others were injured in the attack on the UN camp, which was one of the deadliest attacks against MINUSMA, the UN mission in Mali.

21 Jan 2019; AFP: African nations on Sunday began recognising Felix Tshisekedi as DR Congo's incoming president after the Constitutional Court upheld the vote results, rejecting claims by his main rival of an election stitch-up.

The 16-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) along with Kenya have congratulated Tshisekedi and called for a peaceful handover of power.

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congo’s election crisis deepened early Sunday when the Constitutional Court confirmed the win of Felix Tshisekedi, rejecting claims of fraud, and runner-up Martin Fayulu promptly declared himself the country’s “only legitimate president.”

Fayulu’s supporters have alleged an extraordinary backroom deal by outgoing President Joseph Kabila to rig the vote in favor of the opposition after the ruling party’s candidate did so poorly that a Plan B was needed. Neither side has acknowledged the accusations.

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Andry Rajoelina was sworn in as Madagascar's president on Saturday at Mahamasina stadium in the Madagascan capital city of Antananarivo.

"From now on, Malagasy people will always be victorious every time in economy, in social sector, in cultural sector...," Rajoelina said in his national address during the inauguration ceremony.

Johannesburg, Jan 19 : The US military on Saturday said it had carried out its deadliest airstrike in Somalia in months, killing 52 al-Shabab extremists after a "large group" mounted an attack on Somali forces.

The US Africa Command said the airstrike occurred near Jilib in Middle Juba region. There were no reports of Americans killed or wounded.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The United States ambassador to Congo says 20 days without internet in the country are “20 days too many” and that access cut off just after the disputed presidential election “needs to be restored now.”

Ambassador Mike Hammer isn’t the only diplomat in Congo expressing frustration. British Ambassador John Murton has been tweeting regular reminders of the shutdown, saying on Friday that “this poses problems for hospitals, universities, commerce.”

18 Jan 2019; AFP: Zimbabwe imposed a "total shutdown" of the internet on Friday, a major provider told customers, after protests early this week triggered a ruthless security crackdown.

The internet had been partially restored after a first shutdown started on Tuesday.

"We were served with another directive for total shutdown of the internet until further notice," Econet, the country's biggest provider, said in a text message on Friday.

ANTANANARIVO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The handover of power between Madagascar's incumbent President Hery Rajaonarimampianina and incoming President Andry Rajoelina was held Friday in the capital, Antananarivo, in the presence of acting president Rivo Rakotovao.

Before the power transfer, the three held a closed-door meeting for 47 minutes, and then the acting president left the room and let the other two to continue their meeting for 28 minutes.

The two signed the official documents and shook hands.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The death toll from an extremist attack on a luxury hotel and shopping complex in Nairobi climbed to 21, plus the five militants killed, police said Wednesday in the aftermath of the brazen overnight siege by al-Shabab gunmen. Two people accused of facilitating the attack were arrested.

The number of those killed at the DusitD2 complex rose with the discovery of six more bodies at the scene and the death of a wounded police officer, said Joseph Boinnet, inspector-general of Kenyan police. Twenty-eight people were hurt and taken to the hospital, he said.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s security forces have killed the gunmen whose assault on a luxury hotel and shopping complex took 14 “innocent lives,” the country’s president said Wednesday.

“All the terrorists have been eliminated,” President Uhuru Kenyatta said in announcing an end to the operation to secure the complex in the capital, Nairobi.