March 17, 2017 Madagascar lashed by rain, wind from Cyclone Enawo Heavy rains and strong winds from a cyclone are hitting northeast Madagascar.
March 17, 2017 South Sudan experiencing ethnic cleansing, UN report says A new United Nations report describes South Sudan as teetering on the edge of genocide and experiencing ethnic cleansing, a stark portrayal of a nation whose crises now include famine.
March 17, 2017 Morocco applies to join West African regional economic bloc The Economic Community of West African States confirms Morocco is applying to join the bloc.
March 17, 2017 Thailand seizes 422 pieces of smuggled elephant tusks Thai authorities have seized 422 pieces of elephant tusks and arrested a Gambian man suspected of smuggling the ivory.
March 17, 2017 UN chief arrives on emergency visit to Somalia for famine United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has landed in Somalia on what he calls an emergency visit to focus on famine.
March 17, 2017 Shell shuts Nigeria's Bonga oilfield for maintenance Shell Nigeria says it is closing Bonga oilfield for a month of maintenance, cutting about 200,000 barrels a day from the output of the recession-hit West African nation.
March 17, 2017 Suspected extremists kill at least 5 gendarmes in Niger Niger's defense ministry says at least five gendarmes have been killed in an attack near the country's western border with Mali.
March 17, 2017 Libya militias who seized oil terminals aim to take Benghazi Libyan militias that occupied two key oil terminals last week say they intend to take the eastern city of Benghazi and unseat Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter, who controls the area.
March 17, 2017 Nigerian governor guilty of corruption get 5 years' jail A Nigerian High Court has convicted and jailed a former state governor for corruption.