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Violent clashes erupted between Islamic State-affiliated militants and militias aligned with the Islamist self-declared government near Sirte in north-central Libya.
After surrounding the Islamic State-controlled city of Sirte for several weeks, the militias were about 16 kilometers (10 miles) west of the center of the city on Sunday. Other militias fighting their way into Sirte from the east are only 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from the center.
The Sudanese troops repulsed an attack by the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement - North (SPLM-N) fighters on Kuldegi town in South Kordofan, a military spokesperson said Thursday.
Following the failure of peace negotiations in December 2014, the warring parties in South Kordofan resumed the fighting as every side accuse the other of carrying ground or air attacks.
The Islamic State group’s affiliate in Libya has claimed responsibility for an explosion at a police station in the country’s capital, Tripoli.
The blast early on Thursday caused panic among residents but no one was hurt.
Islamic militants with the extremist group Al-Shabaab mounted a bloody attack Thursday on government administration offices in Baidoa, Somalia.
Initial reports to police indicate that nine people, including four attackers, were killed after gunmen in military uniforms attacked the house of the former Somali parliament speaker and current president of the newly established southwest regional administration, said Col. Mahad Abdi, a Somali police officer.
Nigeria said on Wednesday that 36 towns had been retaken from Boko Haram since the start of a four-nation military offensive, voicing hope that the operation could lead to the group’s “total defeat”.
National security spokesman Mike Omeri said four towns had fallen since last Friday, including three in Borno state and Buni Yadi, in neighbouring Yobe, where the insurgents slaughtered more than 40 students in February last year before seizing it in August.
There are reports of continued fighting at the Brak Al-Shatti civilian and military airport located about 500 km south of Tripoli and just north of Sebha.
The heavy fighting is reported to be between the Third Force of the Central Shield and the Libyan National Army.
Chad and Niger have launched a joint army operation against Boko Haram militants in Nigeria, military sources said, stepping up a regional push to end the Sunni Muslim group’s six-year insurgency.
Boko Haram has expanded cross-border raids into Cameroon, Chad and Niger in recent months. This has spurred Nigeria’s neighbours to retaliate, although cooperation between them and Abuja has been limited and at times strained.