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South Sudan on Monday said that it signed a peace agreement with the South Sudan Democratic Movement/Army, (SSDM/A), one of the rebel groups formerly under the leadership George Athor Deng Dut, before his death in December last year.
Barnaba Marial Benjamin, South Sudan’s minister of information and broadcasting on Monday announced the signing of the deal with the rebel group, describing it as an important step to resolving conflict in the seven month old country.
Somalia government soldiers along with Ethiopian forces took over the control of parts of Baidoa town, a strategic stronghold of Islamist militants in western Somalia, an official said on Wednesday.
Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade, a parliamentarian confirmed to Shabelle Media by phone while he was at the fighting zone that TFG soldiers backed by the Ethiopian troops have seized parts of the town which is just 250 Km away from Mogadishu after fierce battle from the militants.
According to information from reporters in the western part of Somaliland, specifically in the region of Selel have confirmed that a group of armed ONLF militia docked at the beach of Bulo Ado and have attempted to cross into Ethiopia.
According to our sources, the ONLF militia group, estimated to be less than 100 hundred people have fled into the Marmar range of mountains that are located at the cross section of the border between Somaliland, Ethiopia and Djibouti. This armed group of ONLF militia are thought have departed from Eritrean ports along the Red Sea coast.
Nigerian security forces say they have killed at least eight militants in fighting in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri.
The army said the members of Islamist militant group Boko Haram died in an exchange of gunfire following explosions at a market.
Three civilians were also injured, said the army, although witnesses reported seeing at least 20 corpses at a market.
Boko Haram has launched a series of deadly attacks across northern Nigeria.
Since 17 January 2012, the north of Mali has been at war. It started as an attack of armed Tuaregs on a Malian army barracks in Ménaka, near the border with Niger, and has now spread across all of Mali’s three desert regions.
The current conflict in northern Mali is being driven by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA). Azawad is how the movement refers to Mali’s three northern regions - Timbuktu, Kidal and Gao - that covers around half of the country’s area.
Independence: for Tuareg or all?
MNLA spokesman, Moussa Ag Acharatoumane, is clear about their aspirations: “We demand self-determination for Azawad. That means: independence. Is our action a challenge to Mali’s sovereignty? Well, when you look at the matter in more depth, you will find that Azawad and Mali have never been united. We have been asking for freedom in our own state for a long time. But it has never been taken into consideration.”
At least 14 al-Shabaab militants have been killed on Wednesday and many others wounded in an attack which took place in Gedo region of south western Somalia, a military official says.
Ibrahim Farah, one of Somalia Transitional Federal Government TFG army officials in Gedo region said that they have launched an attack this morning on a rebel-held village nearby Gedo Garbaharay town in Gedo region, killing 14 militants from al-Qaeda linked al-Shabaab group.
Sugure, a town under the control of the regional state of Puntland located 40km south of the coastal town of Bosaso, was the sight of a bloody battle this morning after rebel fighters loyal to Sheikh Mohamed Said Atom’s Galgala militia attacked Puntland security forces in their camp early in the morning.
“The rebel fighters attacked immediately after the dawn prayer. You could hardly hear the person next to you because of ricocheting bullets. The rebels were using heavy ammunition and the battle lasted for almost an hour. Bodies were scattered around the camp at least 15 Puntland officers were killed instantly. Two others were injuried and later succumbed to their injuries,” witness Omar Khalif told Somalia Report.
The incident was thought to be a revenge attack after Puntland security forces arrested Sheik Atom’s brother, Ahmed Said Mohamed yesterday.