[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.]
Somalia
Al-Shabab claims deadly Kenya attack Somalia-based group says attacks will continue, and tells tourists to stay away after assault in Mpeketoni kills forty-eight.
African solutions for African problems? Ambassador Abukar Arman, former Somalia special envoy to the United States, argues that interventions from neighbors have not brought Somalia the promised peace.
Somali women struggle to make it in politics The author reports that despite threats, clan politics, and marginalization, some Somali women hope to change the country`s political culture.
Prominent Rebel Leader Atom Surrenders to Federal Government A prominent Somali rebel leader based in the breakaway region of Puntland surrendered to the Somali federal government.
Somaliland Forces Capture Talex, Sool Region Forces belonging to the breakaway region of Somaliland entered the region of Sool, which is disputed between Somaliland and Puntland.
Somalia: Stealing Salvation The author argues that rampant corruption in Somalia is continuing to hobble the counterterrorism fight against Al-Shabaab and hurting relief efforts.
Oil in Somalia: Adding Fuel to the Fire? The report argues that Somalia is ill-prepared to embrace the challenges posed by the extraction of oil, and that major progress in the political, technical, and administrative spheres needs to be made.
Mauritania
Mauritania Presidential Campaigns Kick Off Presidential campaigns in Mauritania began recently.
Mauritania and the Presidential Elections A discussion of Mauritania’s upcoming presidential election.
Moroccan Hackers Attack Mauritanian Government Sites Hackers apparently based in Morocco seized control of several websites operated by the Mauritanian government.
الحربتشتدلإفشالالانتخاباتالرئاسيةالموريتانيةمنهناولإنجاحهامنهناك Rumors of a secret dialogue between the regime and opposition turned out to be premature.
توترجديديعمقأزمةالعلاقاتالموريتانيةالمغربية New tensions have emerged recently in relations between Mauritania and Morocco.
المعارضةالموريتانيةتنسحبمنجلسةبالبرلمان The Mauritanian opposition announced its withdrawal from the current session of parliament.
Interview with Frederic Manantsoa Lai, MSF Head of Mission in Mauritania’s Mbera refugee camp
« Nous sommes tous des haratines » Photo report of the protest signs that were displayed during the march of Haratin Mauritanians against continued slavery and discrimination in Mauritanian society.
UN rights office urges Mauritanian authorities to protect threatened activist Worries in Mauritania about freedom of expression and religion.
Slow but Steady Walk to Democracy The author posits that despite challenges, Mauritania’s democracy deepens.
A Poet in the Ancient City Photos and video from the seventh holiest city in Sunni Islam, Chinguetti, in Mauritania, once a global center of commerce and scholarship but is now disappearing.
Comoros
Comoros bans ‘#bringbackourgirls’ march Comoros has banned a march intended to urge the release of the girls who were recently abducted in Nigeria by Boko Haram.
Kuwait Offers Plan to Buy Foreign Citizenship for Bedoon Kuwait is said to have negotiated a deal to grant its stateless inhabitants (known as “bedoon”) Comoran citizenship in return for economic aid.
The Mavi Marmara: Israel, Turkey and Justice What affect will the Turkish Court ruling have on the referral of Comoros to the International Criminal Court regarding the criminal attack on the Flotilla?
Djibouti
حركةالشبابالمجاهدينبالصومالتتبنىتفجيرجيبوتيالسبتالماضي A Somali militant group was reported to have launched an attack in Djibouti
The Ethio-Djibouti Water Deal: the Lasting Game or the Last Game? The author examines the questions raised on the prospective water deal between Ethiopia and Djibouti.
Quarter of Djibouti Population Desperate for Drought Aid "Persistent and recurring droughts have resulted in a general lack of water for both people and livestock," said UN Resident Co-ordinator in Djibouti.
Mali
Mali Rebel Groups Sign Truce Accord in Algeria Rebel groups in Algeria recently signed an accord in Algeria providing for a truce.
Kidal, as seen from Bamako Bridges from Bamako discusses conflicting reports on violence between government and separatist forces in Kidal in mid-May.
Mali suicide attack kills four UN peacekeepers Assault raises concerns about the possible return of armed Tuareg rebels to the region.
l’attentat contre l’ONU à Aguelhok était sophistiqué Details of attack on United Nations camp in Aguelhoc, northern Mali, amid suspicion that some in the camp were involved.
Mali PM warns of Islamist threat within Tuareg rebels "The international community is not giving the importance needed to the jihadist threat in Kidal," Prime Minister Moussa Mara said.
Mali’s armed groups accept dialogue plans Three groups from north agree to begin talks with government as United Nations gives warning on regional instability.
الجزائر تواصل رعاية المشاورات.. و”غانداكوي” توقع بيانا مشتركا مع فصائل أزوادية There is a new political realignment in northern Mali, but does it represent fighters on the ground?
Interactive: The fight for a Tuareg homeland A nomadic people spread across North Africa, the Tuareg have struggled to secure an independent homeland in the Sahara.
South Sudan
South Sudan`s warring leaders in peace agreement The leaders of South Sudan’s government and rebels reached an accord intended to end the conflict.
South Sudan`s warring sides boycott peace talks Both parties boycott peace talks to protest against accusations of seeking military solution to the conflict.
The price of fast-track peacemaking: Considering May 2014 The author discusses the signing and later apparent failure of the peace agreement signed between the government and rebels.
S Sudan children face starvation Over fifty thousand children could die this year of diseases and malnutrition, United Nations officials say while seeking one billion dollars in support.
Fist fights continue in S Sudan refugee camps Fighting within South Sudanese refugee camps happens daily and sometimes with fatal conclusions.
S Sudan conflict: Can Sudan play a role? Mohamed Elshabik asserts that for sustainable peace, Sudan needs to play a bigger role in the current conflict in South Sudan.
South Sudan`s massacre among many James Copnall argues that what happened in Bentiu is one in a series of massacres stretching back decades into South Sudan`s troubled history.
"Lost Girls`"of S Sudan rebuild lives in US Audio report by Carol McKinley on the girls orphaned during country`s civil war in the 1980s and 90s were adopted and brought to the United States to live by a rabbi.