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African Union chairperson urges intelligence-sharing to aid MaliCalls for immediate release of three kidnapped EgyptiansAl Qaeda-linked jihadists claim new attack in Timbuktu region The African Union has called for an urgent international response, including intelligence-sharing, to address worsening security conditions in Mali, where insurgents are imposing a fuel blockade and kidnapping foreigners. An Al Qaeda-linked militant group active in West Africa's Sahel region has blocked fuel imports since September, attacking convoys of tankers and creating a shortage that forced schools and businesses to shut. The latest show of force by the group, JNIM, has raised concern that it might eventually try to impose its rule over the landlocked country. Western countries including the US, France, Britain and Italy are urging their citizens to leave. In a statement on Sunday, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, chairperson of the African Union Commission, expressed "deep concern over the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Mali, where terrorist groups have imposed blockades, disrupted access to essential supplies, and severely worsened humanitarian conditions for civilian populations". He said there should be "enhanced co-operation, intelligence-sharing and sustained support" for countries in the Sahel affected by violent extremism. The African Union suspended Mali after the 2021 coup that brought the country's current leader, Assimi Goita, to power. The military-led governments of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have withdrawn from the West African regional bloc Ecowas, distanced themselves from Western allies and turned to Russia for military support. **media[379853]** JNIM claims to have killed hundreds of soldiers in attacks on military installations in those three countries this year. Their governments have not commented on the toll. Monday, a media unit for JNIM said its fighters had killed 48 soldiers and wounded more than 100 others in an attack on a military post in Soumpi in the northern Timbuktu region. A Malian military spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. JNIM has targeted foreign nationals for kidnapping to finance its operations in West Africa. Youssouf of the African Union also called in his statement on Sunday for the immediate release of three Egyptians he said were recently seized. Reuters reported in October that a deal was reached to free two citizens of the United Arab Emirates. Schools reopened in the capital Bamako Monday, a Reuters witness said, after being suspended for two weeks because of the fuel shortage.

Israeli forces on Wednesday intercepted several vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian maritime mission aiming to break the blockade on the Gaza Strip. According to media reports, the intercepted ships were carrying dozens of activists and were ordered by Israeli forces to reroute to Ashdod port. The flotilla's organizers reported that the status of the activists and crew members aboard the seized vessels remains unknown. All individuals on the intercepted ships were reportedly detained by Israeli forces. Jawaher Chenna, a member of the Maghreb delegation of the flotilla, told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that contact was made with some Tunisian participants, who confirmed that three vessels - Alma, Syrus, and Adara- were intercepted, and the fate of those onboard remains unclear. The Sumud flotilla includes around 532 participants from more than 45 countries aboard nearly 50 ships that departed from Spain, Italy, and Tunisia.

Flotilla is latest attempt to break Israel's blockade of GazaOrganisers say unidentified vessels approached, military came on boardBoats had expected to reach Gaza on ThursdayIsraeli military personnel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver medicine and food to Gaza and boarded its boats as it approached the war-ravaged enclave.Some 20 unidentified vessels were seen approaching the flotilla earlier on Wednesday night, multiple people on board said, as passengers put on life vests and braced for a takeover."Our vessels are being illegally intercepted. Cameras are offline and vessels have been boarded by military personnel. We are actively working to confirm the safety and status of all participants on board," organisers of the flotilla said in a post on X.The Global Sumud Flotilla, which consists of more than 40 civilian boats carrying about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, is trying to break Israel's blockade of Gaza, despite repeated warnings from Israel to turn back. It is within 90 nautical miles of the war-ravaged Strip, inside a zone that Israel is policing to stop any boats approaching.A live video feed from one of the boats in the flotilla showed passengers in life vests sitting on deck.It is not clear if all the boats had been intercepted or stopped. Some passengers said their vessels continued to advance.Organisers remained defiant. "We will not be intimidated by threats, harassment, or efforts to protect Israel's illegal siege on Gaza," they said in an earlier statement.The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment about intercepting the vessels.The Israeli foreign ministry earlier said its navy had reached out to the flotilla to warn it was approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful blockade, and asked them to change course.The ministry said that it reiterated the offer to transfer any aid peacefully through safe channels to Gaza.It is the latest sea-borne attempt to break Israel's blockade of Gaza, much of which has been turned into a wasteland by almost two years of war. The flotilla had been hoping to arrive in Gaza on Thursday morning if it was not intercepted.This was the second time the flotilla was approached on Wednesday. Before dawn, the mission's organisers said two Israeli "warships" had approached fast and encircled two of the flotilla's boats. All navigation and communication devices went down in what one organiser on board described as a "cyber attack". A video post on the flotilla's Instagram page showed the silhouette of what appeared to be a military vessel with a gun turret near the civilian boats.Reuters confirmed that the video was filmed from the flotilla, but could not confirm the identity of the other vessel in the video or when the video was taken. Last week the flotilla was attacked by drones, which dropped stun grenades and itching powder on the vessels, causing damage but no injuries. Israel did not comment on that attack, but has said it will use any means to prevent the boats from reaching Gaza, arguing that its naval blockade is legal as it battles Hamas in the coastal enclave. Italy and Spain deployed naval ships to help with any rescue or humanitarian needs but stopped following the flotilla once it got within 150 nautical miles of Gaza for safety reasons. Turkish drones have also followed the boats.Italy and Greece on Wednesday jointly called on Israel not to hurt the activists aboard and called on the flotilla to hand over its aid to the Catholic Church for indirect delivery to Gaza - a plea the flotilla has previously rejected.At the press conference held by organisers on Wednesday, Francesca Albanese, the top UN expert on Palestinian rights, said any interception of the flotilla "would be yet another violation of international law, the law of the sea" since Israel had no legal jurisdiction on waters off Gaza.Israel has imposed a naval blockade on Gaza since Hamas took control of the coastal enclave in 2007 and there have been several previous attempts by activists to deliver aid by sea.In 2010, nine activists were killed after Israeli soldiers boarded a flotilla of six ships manned by 700 pro-Palestinian activists from 50 countries. In June this year, Israeli naval forces detained Thunberg and 11 crew members from a small ship organised by a pro-Palestinian group called the Freedom Flotilla Coalition as they approached Gaza.

The Civil Defence in the Gaza Strip has raised alarm over the ongoing Israeli blockade preventing the entry of fuel supplies necessary for operating rescue and firefighting vehicles, warning of mounting humanitarian consequences.In a statement Sunday, Director of Humanitarian Support and International Relations at the Civil Defence, Mohammed al-Mughair, said that the continued denial of fuel supplies will severely impact the agency’s capacity to respond to emergencies and could result in further loss of lives across the besieged enclave.Al-Mughair warned of a sharp decline in Civil Defence services if the fuel shortage persists, and urged all concerned parties and international actors to intervene immediately and press Israel to allow the entry of fuel destined for humanitarian institutions operating in Gaza.The Civil Defence has been appealing for months to secure fuel for its operations. On August 20, it reported receiving only 10% of its monthly fuel needs since the beginning of that month.The crisis has been further exacerbated by Israel's closure of border crossings on March 2, effectively halting the flow of humanitarian aid, relief supplies, and fuel into the territory. Only limited fuel quantities have been allowed via international organisations, falling far short of Gaza’s minimum humanitarian requirements.This continued restriction, the Civil Defence warns, is not only hindering lifesaving operations but also pushing Gaza’s fragile emergency response infrastructure to the brink of collapse.

At least ten vessels of the "Global Sumud Flotilla", which seeks to break the blockade on the Gaza Strip, came under repeated drone attacks in the Mediterranean Sea, organizers said.Explosions were reported and communications on board were severely disrupted, though no casualties have been confirmed so far.Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, said seven drone attacks struck the flotilla after about 15 aircraft flew overhead, stressing the urgent need for international protection.The flotilla's organizing committee said unidentified objects were dropped on ten boats, causing material damage, while 13 explosions were recorded nearby.It accused Israel of conducting a media disinformation campaign to justify potential military action against the humanitarian convoy, warning that targeting it would amount to a war crime and a flagrant violation of international law.The Global Sumud Flotilla comprises humanitarian workers, doctors, artists, and activists from 44 countries. It departed Tunisia earlier this month after several delays, with the aim of establishing a humanitarian corridor and breaking the blockade imposed on Gaza for more than 23 months. Israel previously intercepted similar sea-borne attempts to reach Gaza in June and July.