[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
Populist Muslim party surges in Comoros voting The populist Muslim party Juwa has performed well in Comoran parliamentary elections.
Comoros: a long history of coups A list of the coups d’etat that have taken place in Comoros since independence in 1875.
Djibouti
جيبوتي ترسل قوات إضافية إلى الصومال Djibouti announced it is increasing the number of troops it has deployed to Somalia to support the African Union mission there.
جيبوتي وإثيوبيا تدعوان المجتمع الدولي إلى "ردع" إريتريا Djibouti and Ethiopia urged the international community to deter Eritrea from taking any aggressive action against them.
Ethiopia and Djibouti Accuse Eritrea of Sabotaging Horn of Africa Ethiopia and Djibouti accused Eritrea of formenting instability in the horn of Africa, an allegation Eritrea denies.
Djibouti sends fresh troops to Somalia Djibouti announced it is deploying additional forces to Somalia as part of the African Union mission.
Mali
4 Bangladeshi peacekeepers injured in Mali explosion Four Bangladeshi peacekeepers were injured in an explosion in Mali.
Mali: UN launches probe into violent demonstration against peacekeepers in Gao The United Nations is launching an investigation into a violent demonstration against peacekeepers on 27 January.
Dutch gunships battle Mali Rebels Dutch helicopters were used against rebels as part of a peacekeeping force, provoking protests.
Mauritania
Chevron acquires offshore exploration interests in Mauritania Chevron announced it has acquired a minority interest in Mauritanian offshore oil projects from Kosmos energy.
Mauritania: Defense team withdraw in anti-slavery activists’ trial Lawyers for three Mauritanian anti-slavery activists have forced a delay in the trial by withdrawing.
Mauritania wants dialogue before senatorial elections As part of a dialogue with the opposition Mauritania postponed Senate elections after the opposition announced a boycott.
المعارضة الموريتانية تقبل الحوار مع الحكومة The Mauritanian opposition has accepted the chance to participate in a dialogue led by the Mauritanian government.
ولد حدمين يجتمع بزعيم المعارضة الموريتانية Mauritanian opposition leader Hassan Ould Mohamed met with Prime Minister Yahya Ould Haddmin for the second time this month.
الحكومة الموريتانية لا ترى مانعا في إجراء انتخابات رئاسية وبرلمانية سابقة لأوانها استجابة لطلب المعارضة ( الناطق باسم الحكومة) The government of Mauritania announced it does not object to holding early parliamentary and presidential elections.
أجيل انتخابات مجلس الشيوخ الموريتاني لتفعيل الحوار مع المعارضة The Mauritanian government agreed to delay the elections for the upper house indefinitely as part of its dialogue with the opposition.
Somalia
Mogadishu airport staff targeted in gun attack, 4 killed Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for an attack on Mogadishu airport staff that left four dead.
US banks move ruining the lives of families in Somalia Somalis in the diaspora strongly criticized a move by an American bank to ban money transfers to Somalia.
Somali Government Welcomes Zaki’s Rejection of Al-Shabaab’s Ideology Leading al-Shabaab figure Zakaria Ismail Hersi, aka Zaki, has announced that he rejects violence and is leaving al-Shabaab.
South Sudan
South Sudan rights group welcomes election delay The South Sudan Human Rights Society for Advocacy (SSHRSA) praised the government’s delay of elections during peace negotiations.
No Peace, No Justice: How the African Union is failing South Sudan David K. Deng criticizes the AU’s decision to delay releasing the report of the Africa Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan (AUCISS).
South Sudan: Government forces recruiting child soldiers Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged both the government and opposition in South Sudan to cease using child soldiers.