January 9, 2017 Merkel pledges national effort to return rejected migrants German Chancellor Angela Merkel is renewing a pledge to make a "national effort" to ensure that failed asylum-seekers return home, while stressing the need to show their home countries "respect." Speeding up deportations and voluntary returns of people whose asylum claims are rejected has gained new urgency following the Dec. 19 truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin.
January 9, 2017 Ex-Chad dictator Habre's appeal against conviction begins The appeal of ex-Chad president Hissene Habre against his life sentence for war crimes, crimes against humanity and torture has begun in Senegal by the Extraordinary African Chambers.
January 9, 2017 'We have made mistakes,' South Africa president tells party South Africa's scandal-ridden president says the ruling party has made "mistakes" and is determined to root out the corruption that is destroying the country's democracy.
January 9, 2017 1,000 Tunisians fearing return of jihadis march to say 'No' Up to 1,000 Tunisians have marched in the capital to protest the return of jihadis from Syria, Iraq and neighboring Libya.
January 8, 2017 Fresh gunfire in Ivory Coast as officials seek end to mutiny A witness in Bouake, Ivory Coast's second-largest city, says gunfire has been heard for a second day in as security officials prepare to meet with disgruntled soldiers who staged a mutiny over pay and other conditions.
January 8, 2017 Nigeria: West Africa will act on Gambia election crisis West African leaders will make a decision Saturday on Gambia's electoral crisis and its longtime leader's refusal to accept defeat in elections.
January 8, 2017 Blast kill 3 in Somali restaurant frequented by soldiers A Somali police officer says a bomb explosion at a restaurant in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, has killed three people, and injured more than 16 others.
January 8, 2017 Mario Soares, Portugal's former president and PM, dies at 92 Mario Soares, a former prime minister and president of Portugal who helped steer his country toward democracy after a 1974 military coup and grew into a global statesman, has died.
January 8, 2017 Ghana's new president, vice president sworn into office Ghana's chief justice swore in the nation's newly elected President Nana Akufo-Addo amid a sea of people dressed in the red, blue and white colors of his party.
January 7, 2017 Captured militant confirms death of Benghazi militia leader The Libyan military reports that a captured militant has confirmed the killing of Wissam Ben Hamid, the leader of militia groups in the eastern city of Benghazi.