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IS gains ground in the Sahel as massacres accumulate
IS gains ground in the Sahel as massacres accumulate
by  AFP

Islamic State-linked jihadists, whose power was once thought to be waning in the Sahel, have expanded their reach recently, marking their presence with an unprecedented series of civilian massacres. "Never in the Sahel has there been such a succession of massacres of civilians," a United Nations official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Lumumba family to 'finish mourning' with tooth return
Lumumba family to 'finish mourning' with tooth return
by  AFP

The family of slain Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba said Friday it hoped to finally turn a grim page of history as former colonial master Belgium prepares to return the last remains of the independence hero. "We hope that there will be a result before they die," said Roland Lumumba.

Lagos film school helps focus Nollywood's global push
Lagos film school helps focus Nollywood's global push
by  AFP

Inside the cavernous Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic church in Lagos, a man in a dark hoodie stops menacingly at the entrance and glares at the Christ statue before him. Back at the Lagos church, an actor's makeup is touched up by the light of a cellphone as lighting crews look how to capture the colours of the stained glass windows.

Jihadist massacre heaps pressure on Burkina junta
Jihadist massacre heaps pressure on Burkina junta
by  AFP

In January, a military junta seized power in Burkina Faso, pledging to restore security in a country ravaged by a nearly seven-year-old jihadist insurgency. - Frustration - "The military came to power by generating a wave of enthusiasm among the public.