For a long time, the Islamist extremists known as Boko Haram mostly struck in Nigeria. But now the group is launching attacks in neighboring countries, too.
A video from the so-called Islamic State purports to show a mass beheading of Coptic Christians from Egypt. The 21 Egyptians were kidnapped in Libya in December and January.
The man who runs Libya's national oil company is struggling to resume production amid conflict and falling prices. A functioning oil industry might define whether Libya is a nation or a failed state.
Egypt is conducting airstrikes on positions held by the self-declared Islamic State in Libya, in response to a video apparently showing the militants' beheading of Egyptians on the Libyan coast.
The footage is supposed to show militants from the self-declared Islamic State executing 21 Coptic Christians captured by the extremist group last week.
Yusuf Ahmed Abukar covered stories about Somalia's poor and displaced. He was critical of the government and of militants. Then one day he got a text message that said someone was coming for him.
It's the last country in Africa where polio is hanging on. The good news: There hasn't been a case in more than six months. But that doesn't mean the virus is history.
The Islamist extremist group that has killed and kidnapped thousands in Nigeria is increasingly expanding its area of operation as it reportedly tries to establish an independent state.
The deployment of troops to build treatment centers and train health workers didn't pan out as planned. But as most of the troops are being withdrawn, it is clear the U.S. still made a difference.
The High Commissioner for Refugees wants the European Union to expand its Operation Triton to intercept and rescue would-be migrants, most of them trying to reach Italy.