Geography of Africa

Turkey will continue to support the Government of Fayez al-Sarraj's national agreement in Libya if the reach a settlement in the North African country fails. This was stated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who spoke to his party members in parliament, TASS reported.

Turkey on Feb. 17 condemned a terrorist attack that killed at least 24 people when gunmen attacked a church in northern Burkina Faso.

"We condemn this terrorist attack. We extend our sincere condolences to the brotherly Government and people of Burkina Faso as well as to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives," Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

At least 24 people were killed in a church attack by about 20 jihadists in Pansy village in Burkina Faso,. The pastor was among the killed. At least ten others were injured and three were abducted, the Associated Press reported.

Among the dead are both Christians and Muslims. The church was set on fire.

Gunmen killed 24 civilians, including a church pastor, and kidnapped three others on Feb. 17 in Burkina Faso, an official said. It was the latest attack against a religious leader in the increasingly unstable West African nation.

A number of European Union countries are still blocking any move to resume a naval operation in the Mediterranean Sea over concerns that it might encourage migrants to set out from Libya in search of better lives in Europe, the EU's top diplomat said Monday.

World powers and regional actors have launched on Feb. 16 an international committee to oversee pledges made for an arms embargo and cease-fire in Libya.

Athens is bracing for the United Nations' Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea to post the geographical coordinates outlined in the maritime border agreement signed by Turkey and the Tripoli-based government in Libya on November 29, 2019. 

The president of Cyprus said Thursday that he regretted accepting a free flight on a Saudi businessman's jet for his family's vacation in the Seychelles but that the private travel arrangements didn't break any laws or ethical guidelines.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Jan. 12 mandating a multinational operation to oversee a lasting ceasefire in Libya.

A contested memorandum of understanding delimitating maritime borders between Turkey and Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli is "outrageous" and based on a "flawed reading of international law," a US Senator said on Wednesday during a discussion at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about US Policy towards Libya.