AU troops retake Somali UN base - 22 dead

Islamist militants carried out a deadly assault on the main UN compound in the Somali capital but AU troops have regained control.

Ethiopia snubs Egypt by signing treaty

Ethiopia's parliament has unanimously ratified a treaty, which strips Egypt of its right to the lion's share of the Nile River waters.

• Egypt, Uganda in talks over Nile treaty
• Nile basin treaty faces new pressure
• Nile water treaty set for ratification

Mali: Govt, rebels talks extended

International mediators have failed to convince Mali's president to sign a deal with northern Tuareg rebels that would pave the way for nationwide polls next month.

• Traore to be presented with peace deal
• Mali vote deal almost done
• Mali added to child soldier list of shame

AU urges Egypt, Ethiopia to hold talks

The AU has urged Egypt and Ethiopia to come together for talks to solve a bitter dispute over the sharing of Nile river waters amid Ethiopia’s building of a new dam, the AU chief says.

• Ethiopia dismisses psychological warfare
• Cairo: No Nile, no Egypt
• Egypt eyes Nile deal with Ethiopia

Nkoana-Mashabane: Stop coups

Support is growing for an African Union plan to set up a rapid response unit for the continent, International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane says.

• Time to assess progress of 'African unity'
• Leaders beg Zuma to redeploy troops
• AU to adopt SA military initiative

AU to adopt SA military initiative

The African Union will establish a new military force following a suggestion from South Africa, the international relations and co-operation department says.

• AU creates emergency military force
• African Union to fix DRC and more
• African Union celebrates 50 yearsview

AU creates emergency military force

African leaders have decided to immediately establish a military rapid reaction force to deal with regional security emergencies, moving to reduce the continent's reliance on outside forces.

• AU to urge ICC to drop Kenya trials
• African Union to fix DRC and more
• African Union celebrates 50 yearsview

African Union to fix DRC and more

African Union leaders have met to tackle ongoing conflicts on the continent, a day after the pan-African bloc threw itself a lavish birthday party celebrating everything positive in its 50 years of existence.

• Time to assess progress of 'African unity'
• Africa celebrates progress and 'unity'
• AU opens 50th anniversary celebrations

Hollande invites African leaders

French President Francois Hollande has invited African leaders to a "peace and security" summit later in the year.

• France wants Hezbollah tagged terrorists
• France ups Africa, ME embassy security

Africa Day a reminder for unity: Zuma

Africa Day marks the quest for unity and the political and economic emancipation of the continent's people, President Jacob Zuma has said.

• AU opens 50th anniversary celebrations
• AU: memories of hope 50 years ago
• Africa celebrates progress and 'unity'

Extremists who influenced UK attacker

The slaying of a UK soldier in east London cast a spotlight on radical preachers who influenced Michael Adebolajo, the attacker seen in videos with bloody hands holding a butcher knife.

• UK braces for possible copycat attacks
• MI5 aware of suspects before attack
• New arrests in UK soldier killing

AU: memories of hope 50 years ago

The AU is celebrating 50 years of existence this year. Set up in 1963 in the Ethiopian capital, the body had 32 initial signatory governments, with 21 more nations joining over the years.

• Not quite the USA
• AU summit called for integration - Zuma
• Africa needs one president – Mugabe

Rajoelina not eligible to run in polls – AU

The AU says it will not recognise Andry Rajoelina as Madagascar’s president if he wins July’s presidential election, pilling more pressure on the incumbent leader not to stand.

• Rajoelina urged not to run in polls
• Ex-Madagascar leader to contest polls
• Rajoelina to run in vote, breaks promise

Up to 3 000 AU troops killed in Somalia

As many as 3 000 AU peacekeepers have been killed in Somalia in recent years in an attempt to end an Islamist insurgency and bring stability to the Horn of Africa nation, the UN says.

• Somalia's Shabaab 'a serious threat'
• AU appeals for UN funding for Mali force
• Don't lift Somalia arms embargo, UN told

Zuma wants African intervention brigade

The African Union needs a stronger military capacity to respond to instability on the continent, President Jacob Zuma has said after meeting his Nigerian counterpart Goodluck Jonathan.

• Goodluck Jonathan visits SAview
• Nigeria, SA leaders aim to boost ties
• ANC welcomes CAR troop withdrawal

ANC welcomes CAR troop withdrawal

The African National Congress has welcomed the government's decision to withdraw South African soldiers from the Central African Republic.

• We didn't bolt from CAR - Minister
• Calls for Zuma to establish inquiry
• CAR strongman 'accepts ECCAS decisions'

Probe into SA troops killed in CAR

Government will investigate international reports querying the death toll of South African soldiers in CAR, International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane says.

• SA sends more troops to CAR - report
• SA troops leaving CAR - union
• SANDF denies CAR troop build-up

AU, Somali troops re-open key road

African Union and Somali government forces have opened a key route after months of fighting, commanders say, reaching the former Islamic stronghold of Baidoa by road for the first time.

• Somalia rebels kill man over gay sex
• Somali Islamists retake key town
• Somali Islamists eye Ethiopia withdawal

AU suspends CAR after rebels oust Bozize

The AU has suspended the Central African Republic after rebels seized power in a rapid weekend assault on the capital, sending President Francois Bozize fleeing.

• No plans to pull troops from CAR
• Consider me head of state – CAR rebel
• 13 SA soldiers killed in CARwatch

AU salutes 'peaceful elections' in Kenya

The African Union has saluted the Kenyan people for holding successful and peaceful elections, AU commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma says.

• Kenyatta victory in Kenya electionsview
• Police fire teargas in Kenya
• Kenya: Defeated Odinga to challenge vote

Zuma to Ethiopia for peace

President Jacob Zuma is attend the signing of a peace, security and co-operation framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes Region, in Ethiopia.

• DRC peace talks likely delayed – rebels
• Zuma, Kabila slam instability in east DRC
• Zuma attending extraordinary SADC summit

AU welcomes arrest of DRC rebel 19

African Union chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has welcomed the arrest of 19 alleged Democratic Republic of Congo rebels in Limpopo.

• Kabila, Kagame to attend DRC summit
• New rebel group in DRC
• SA arrests 19 DRC rebels suspected of coup plans

UN considers end to Somalia arms embargo

The UN chief has asked the Security Council to consider lifting the 20-year-old arms embargo on Somalia, so that country's fragile army can fight off al-Qaeda-linked militias.

• UN resists calls to end Somalia arms ban
• Somalia wants arms embargo lifted
• Somali president asks - lift arms embargo

UN to discuss peacekeepers for Mali

The UN Security Council will soon begin discussing a possible UN peacekeeping force for Mali, an idea the world body had been uncomfortable with before France's recent military intervention, envoys say.

• Mali's conflict could spill into Libya
• Donors pledge $455m for Mali
• UN: Mali must start election work now