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WORLD NEWS Monday 19 February 2018

West Africa's extremism spreading as thousands flee homes

Traore. Some 470 ammuni- self joining the front line past week, some 20 po-
tion cartridges were found of a growing regional war licemen abandoned their
at the scene, he said. on extremism waged by station at Deou in Burkina
None of the several ex- a variety of actors, from Faso’s north to protest a
tremist groups roaming the France's largest overseas lack of equipment, such
region has claimed respon- military operation to a new as helmets and bulletproof
sibility for the attack about five-country West African jackets, to fight extremists.
280 kilometers (174 miles) force backed by millions The deputy mayor, Moussa
from the capital, Ouaga- of dollars from the United Sawadogo, said police also
dougou, which in recent States, wealthy Gulf nations lacked gas to patrol the
years has been alerted to and others. area in vehicles. The prob-
the jihadist threat by dead- But the landlocked, impov- lem is shared by other se-
ly attacks on high-profile erished country has few re- curity agents who say they
hotels and cafes. sources for its own defense. don’t feel prepared to take
Burkina Faso now finds it- In a telling incident in the on jihadists. q
In this Monday Jan. 18, 2016 photo, a soldier stands guard out-
side the Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. West
Africa's extremist threat has moved into a new part of the vast
Sahel region, with a previously calm area of Burkina Faso facing
the kinds of assaults that have forced thousands elsewhere to
flee over the past year.
(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
By B. OUEDRAOGO thousands elsewhere to
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina flee over the past year.
Faso (AP) — West Africa's Last week a police station
extremist threat has moved was attacked by about 10
into a new part of the vast people in the eastern town
Sahel region, with a previ- of Natiaboani, killing one
ously calm area of Burkina officer and wounding at
Faso facing the kinds of least two others, accord-
assaults that have forced ing to governor Ousmane

AP: Maldives delays reinstating

12 pro-opposition lawmakers

By M. SHARUHAAN be allowed to participate
MALE, Maldives (AP) — Monday. The Maldives has
The Supreme Court of the faced upheaval since Feb.
Maldives delayed its or- 1, when the Supreme Court
der Sunday reinstating 12 ordered the release of Ya-
pro-opposition lawmakers meen's imprisoned political
ahead of a key parliamen- opponents and the rein-
tary sitting, the latest politi- statement of 12 lawmakers
cal turmoil to roil the island sacked after they sided
nation. with the opposition.
Opposition lawmaker The prisoners include Mo-
Ahmed Mahloof said the hamed Nasheed, the
government may call for country's first president
important votes at a parlia- elected in a free election,
mentary sitting Monday to who could have been Ya-
extend a state of emergen- meen's main rival in his re-
cy or dismiss two Supreme election bid later this year.
Court judges who have After days of conflict with
been arrested on allega- the judiciary, Yameen de-
tions of corruption. clared a 15-day state of
President Yameen Abdul emergency and had the
Gayoom's ruling party may country's chief justice and
have lost a majority in the another Supreme Court
85-member parliament if judge arrested on bribery
the 12 lawmakers were to allegations. q