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As French troop drawdown looms, Malian army still in crisis
As France pushes ahead with plans to start withdrawing its troops from Mali next month despite continuing Islamist attacks, military leaders from both countries admit the Malian army is in crisis and not ready to take over. ... more
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10 dead as Cyclone Haruna lashes Madagascar
Tropical cyclone Haruna and rains that lashed the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar killed 10 people and affected nearly 3,000 this week, the disaster management agency said Saturday. ... more
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Guinea soldiers quit I.Coast village in border dispute
Guinean soldiers have withdrawn from an Ivorian village they took over late last month in a border dispute dating back to the days of independence, an Ivorian security source said Saturday. ... more
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Mali troops battle Islamists in Gao as car bomb targets camp
Rebels were driven from landmarks in the city of Gao in deadly clashes Thursday, Paris said, as French-backed forces battled to secure Mali's volatile north against Islamist fighters. ... more
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