News Digest: US airstrike 'kills 60 militants' in Somalia; Madagascar qualify for Afcon for first time

 US airstrike 'kills 60 militants' in Somalia; Madagascar qualify for Afcon for first time

US forces killed 60 al-Shabab militants in an airstrike last Friday on Harardere in central Somalia, the US military has said in a statement that updated the figure from four.

The "precision airstrike" carried out in coordination with the Somali government did not kill any civilians, the military adds.

It calls it "the largest airstrike against al-Shabab" for nearly a year.

In November last year the US said it had killed "100 terrorists".

2. Madagascar qualify for Afcon for first time

And 

Madagascar have made it through to the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals for the first time after beating Equatorial Guinea 1-0 at home.

Thailand-based midfielder Njiva Rakotoharimalala scored the only goal of the game right at the end of the first half.

The result puts Madagascar on 10 points in Group A to guarantee them a place in next year's finals, which are set to be hosted by Cameroon.

It will be the first time that 24 teams will feature in the competition.

Senegal will join them in the finals if they can win in Sudan later on Tuesday.

There are two more qualifying rounds left to play, one in November, and the final matches will be in March next year.

3. Charity CEO out after Liberia rape report

The CEO of a US-backed academy in Liberia has temporarily resigned after a report found that dozens of girls were allegedly raped by an employee.

Katie Meyler, the CEO of charity More Than Me, announced she would step aside after a report by ProPublica and Time magazine revealed the abuse.

More Than Me says they have taken steps to safeguard girls at the school, which is devoted to women's empowerment.

The group has also created a panel to review the investigation.

The non-governmental organisation's advisory board recommended an independent investigation into allegations of widespread abuse and negligence at the institution, which exists to protect young Liberian girls from sexual abuse and exploitation.

In a statement on Monday, a committee of seven Liberian government agencies said it met twice since the story was published on Thursday, with the aim "to taking the appropriate legal actions to protect the children and ensure they are safe", Time magazine reported.

4. UN worried by Angola explusions

The UN's refugee agency, UNHCR, says it's concerned by the "fast-developing humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo sparked by mass returns from Angola over the last two weeks".

The return of Congolese, who had been working in the informal mining sector, came after the Angolan government issued an order to expel them.

"Mass expulsions are contrary to obligations under the African Charter and we ask both sides to respect the human rights of those affected," the UNHCR said in a statement.

There have been unconfirmed reports that a number of these migrants have been brutalised and even killed by Angolan forces before being deported, says the BBC's Louise Dewast in DR Congo capital, Kinshasa.

The reason for this crackdown remains unclear.

For many years, Congolese migrants have been living in Angola, where they dig for diamonds in artisanal mines.

It could be linked to an attempt by the new Angolan government to take control over its mining industry.

5. Legal battle over Cameroon vote begins

The legal tussle over Cameroon’s presidential election, held on 7 October, began on Tuesday with the Constitutional Council expected to adjudicate on 18 petitions that require the election to be either totally or partially annulled.

At least 100 members of the security forces surrounded the premises. Inside, all 11 members of the council, as well as some aggrieved candidates, their lawyers and supporters of various political parties, took up positions in the court room

Those bringing petitions include Joshua Osih of the Social Democratic Front and Cabral Libii of the Univers party. They say the elections were mired in fraud and should be completely annulled.

Even Maurice Kamto, who had earlier proclaimed himself victor in the election, was in court to call for the cancellation of the vote in seven of Cameroon’s 10 administrative regions.

He says there were far too many irregularities.

The Constitutional Council has at most six days to decide on the petitions, and at the same time go through the final tallies of the election made available to it by the electoral commission on Monday.

It has to declare the result by 22 October at the latest.