AU - Africanews

1. New details emerge over US airstrikes in Nigeria's Northwest

   Nigeria’s government has confirmed the precise locations of US airstrikes carried out in the country’s northwest on Christmas evening, marking a rare instance of foreign military action on Nigerian soil.

2. Basketball tournament in Cotonou unites West African youth beyond borders

   The third edition of The Last Last, a regional basketball event organized by the association The Future, has brought together teams from Benin, Togo, Nigeria and Ghana in the economic capital of Cotonou, celebrating sport as a powerful tool for unity across West Africa.

3. Egyptian dissident Alaa Abd el-Fattah arrives in London after travel ban lifted

   British-Egyptian dissident Alaa Abd el-Fattah has arrived in London after Egyptian authorities lifted a travel ban that had remained in place despite his release from prison in September.

4. Ivorians head to the polls as divisions from Presidential vote linger

   Ivorians head to the polls this Saturday to elect the 255 members of Ivory Coast's National Assembly, in a vote shaped by deep political divisions.

5. US airstrikes deepen debate in Nigeria as analysts warn against quick fix

   Nigeria is facing mixed reactions following US airstrikes targeting Islamic State-linked militants in the country’s northwest, a move that has surprised many in a nation where foreign military intervention is rare.