[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Mali, South Sudan, Somalia, Mauritania, Djibouti, and Comoros Islands and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the On the Margins Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each month's roundup to info@jadaliyya.com.]
Comoros
Mauritius: Air Mauritius to Operate Direct Flight to Comoros As From July 2018
Air Mauritius has announced it plans to operate direct flights between its country and the Comoros.
Comoros President suspends constitutional court
Comoran President Azali Assoumani announced the suspension of the country’s constitutional court, in a move angering the
Opposition.
Comoros protests to reclaim French island, Mayotte
Protestors in the Comoros are calling for the island nation to take possession of Mayotte, currently under French jurisdiction.
Playing a spy on the Comoros Islands
A journalist from the Comoros recounts how a foreign intelligence service fed him information with the knowledge it would be used in a news report. Sale of Comoros citizenship was unlawfully abused by mafia networks An investigation has found widespread abuse in the sale of Comoros citizenship to foreign investors and migrants.
Djibouti
Ethiopia-Djibouti railway winning hearts of passengers
A new railway from Ethiopia to Djibouti has proven extremely popular with investors.
Why borrowers on China's Belt and Road will go from euphoria to depression
Conditions of loans in the Chinese Belt and Road initiative may cause difficulties for borrowers in the future.
General says China’s control of a port in Djibouti could have ‘significant’ repercussions for US
The head of US Africa Command told the House of Representatives that the Chinese control of
a Djiboutian port could have significant impact on American national security.
Djibouti port seizure: State-owned company takes charge
The government nationalised the port a week earlier, claiming that the deal struck with Emirati company DP World was one-sided and harming the country.
Djibouti says US has no need to worry about Chinese port
The Djiboutian government rejected claims that Chinese control over a port would result in risks to American national security.
لماذا تحولت جيبوتي إلى ثكنة عسكرية عالمية ؟
An editorial in al-Quds al-Arabi asks why Djibouti has become home to numerous foreign military bases.
جيبوتي: ميناء دوراليه سيبقى في أيدي الدولة
The Djiboutian government claims that the state will continue to
operate the port of Dorale will remain state-controlled after its seizure from Emirati company DP
World.
Mauritania
السلطات الموریتانیة تمنع صحفیا من أداء فریضة الحج
Mauritanian authorities have blocked prominent publisher Musa Ould Sam Si from travelling to Saudi Arabia on the hajj pilgrimage.
Mauritanian opposition to contest upcoming polls
Opposition parties plan to contest upcoming elections after boycotting previous votes.
Mauritania court gives toughest sentence for slave owners A Mauritanian court has sentenced
two slave owners to sentences of ten and twenty years, respectively.
WFP Mauritania Country Brief, March 2018
World Food Program briefing on the current state of relief programs in Mauritania.
Administrative obstacles keep kids from school
Many students seeking to attend school in Mauritania have run into administrative roadblocks.
Mauritanian leader pours praise on G5 sahel
The Mauritanian President praised regional leaders in creating the G5 Saleh regional security organization.
Mali
For Mali's Tuareg music speaks of suffering and the Sahara
Malian Tuareg have found comfort in music expressing their ordeal in the recent conflict.
Again, loud explosions rock northern
Mali The northern Malian city of Timbuktu has been the site of explosions thought to be the responsibility of local militant groups.
UN says Canada needs more helicopters to fully meet its peacekeeping commitments in Mali
The United Nations argues that Canada needs to commit additional helicopters for the
peacekeeping mission in Mali to be successful.
Mali Mission: Questions still go unanswered by Canadian Forces, Liberals
Both the Liberal Government of PM Justin Trudeau and the Canadian forces have questions to answer about the peacekeeping mission in Mali.
Negotiations with Jihadists: a radical idea gains currency
Mali Malian observers are arguing that negotiations with jihadist groups might prove more fruitful than armed confrontation.
Somalia
DP World should rethink ports deal in Somalia: foreign Minister
Somalia’s foreign minister said on Friday that Dubai state-owned port operator DP World should reconsider its contract with the breakaway region of Somaliland and work with federal authorities so Somalia’s sovereignty is not violated.
Rival groups from Somali army fight at former UAE training facility
Rival forces from Somalia’s army shot at each other in the capital Mogadishu on Monday, with one group trying to storm a training centre the United Arab Emirates left behind after it ended a training programme there, soldiers and residents said.
Somalia: Flash Floods - Apr 2018
Unlike in 2017 when the rains were poor, the above average Gu rains in April this year are already worsening conditions in overcrowded Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) settlements and displacing more people along riverine areas due to flooding.
At least 3 hurt as bomb explodes near aid office in Somalia
There were at least three injuries caused by the bombing of an aid office located in Somalia.
Sobbing Lindhout says Somalia kidnapping inflicted emotional and physical scars
Former Canadian hostage Amanda Lindhout says that her ordeal in Somalia caused physical and emotional harm at her attacker’s trial.
South Sudan
Spokesman for South Sudan's VP quits, blames government for suffering
The spokesman for South Sudanese VP James Wani Iggar resigned and blamed the government for recent destabilization in the country.
South Sudan, Somalia and Iran excluded from one of Australia's refugee programs
A new Australian refugee program excludes those from South Sudan, Somalia and Iran, while
prioritizing other nations.
UN peacekeepers accused of child rape in South Sudan
UN peacekeepers serving in South Sudan have been accused of child rape.
South Sudanese clergy promoting violence, VP says
South Sudanese VP James Wani Igga blamed Christian clergy for inciting violence in South Sudan.
Sudan
Sudan considers UN plan to reduce unnamed mission in Darfur
Sudan is examining a proposal from the United Nations to reduce its operational presence in the Darfur region.
South Sudan: Copyright laws do not exist
In South Sudan, the lack of copyright laws means that the country’s artists are unable to profit from their creations, enabling others to do so.
Sudan’s facilitators vow to make new proposals for peace in Darfur
Sudanese facilitators have pledged to create new proposals to bring peace to the Darfur region.