Daily News on the Issues Affecting Africa for January 28th

Continue reading for a summary of recent news stories relating to some of the most pressing issues on the continent. We draw on a wide range of respected news sources, both from Africa itself and around the world. The themes of today's In the News post are updates on violence in Nigeria, movements of Central African refugees, political action in South Sudan, Joseph Kony and the LRA, Chad's role in the Central African crisis, the African Union's re-inclusion of Madagascar as a member, security situation in the Sahel region, and the European Union's re-acceptance of Guinea in its political considerations.

Attacks by extremists kill at least 99 Nigerians
Suspected Islamic extremists used explosives and heavy guns to attack a village and worshippers during a Christian church service in Nigeria's northeast, killing at least 99 people and razing hundreds of homes, officials and witnesses said Monday. The attacks in Borno and Adamawa states resulted in one of the highest death tolls in recent attacks by militants who are defying an 8-month old military state of emergency in three states in northern Nigeria designed to halt an Islamic uprising there. – Washington Post
To read more, please visit the Washington Post site here.

Video: Terrified CAR civilians seek refuge in DR Congo
Violence continued to plague the Central African capital of Bangui Monday, despite last week's inauguration of President Catherine Samba-Panza, forcing scores of civilians to flee across the Oubangui River to the Democratic Republic of Congo. – France 24
To read more, please visit the France 24 site here.

Sudan awaits presidential address on political reform
The Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir will deliver a speech on Monday detailing the comprehensive political reform document prepared by the ruling National Congress Party (NCP). Several senior political figures are expected to attend the speech including some from opposition parties. – Sudan Tribune
To read more, please visit the Sudan Tribune site here.

Kony asks for mercy, blames Museveni for S. Sudan woes
The Lord's Resistance Army rebel leader, Joseph Kony, has written to Ugandans seeking forgiveness and a resumption of peace talks to end the insurgency. "I want to assure the people of Uganda that, we [LRA] are committed to a sustainable peaceful political settlement of our long war with the government of (President) Museveni," Kony's letter dispatched by Mr Mission Okello reads in part. – The East African
To read more, please visit the East African site here.

Chad: Déby's misstep in the Central African Republic
Having influence, however, doesn't mean things will always go your way, and in a sense, Chad has some responsibility in the crisis that has unfolded in the CAR. A year ago, Chad is believed to have given tacit approval to the Séléka rebel alliance − then led by Djotodia − as they embarked on a second push towards Bangui. A number of irregular Chadian soldiers and former Chadian rebels are understood to have been among their ranks, and the Séléka eventually overthrew President François Bozizé. Since then, the situation in the CAR has turned out much worse than anyone could have anticipated at the time. – Think Africa Press
To read more, please visit the Think Africa Press site here.

AU lifts suspension of Madagascar
The African Union lifted its suspension of Madagascar's membership on Monday after a new president took office following the island's first election since a coup five years ago. – News 24
To read more, please visit the News 24 site here.

Global experts discuss Sahel security
Trafficking and terror threats to the Sahel-Saharan region demand tighter security ties, international officials agreed in Marrakech at the week-end. The fifth Marrakech Security Forum took place "in a delicate context dominated by the persistence of the terrorist threat and the emergence of new crises", Moroccan Centre for Strategic Studies chief Mohamed Benhammou said. More than 250 civilian and security figures from 80 countries attended the 2-day event, which wrapped up on Saturday (January 25th). – Magharebia
To read more, please visit the Magharebia site here.

EU resumes full cooperation with Guinea
The European Union has resumed full cooperation with the West African nation of Guinea five years after a military coup triggered a suspension. – Associated Press
To read more, please visit the Associated Press site here.