Authorities in Somalia say 6 civilians and 3 police officers have been killed in an extremist attack in Mogadishu. Militants stormed an upscale hotel and took hostages. According to security forces, more than 84 people have been freed in the rescue operation.

The truce between Israel and Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad comes after five days of fighting. The US has welcomed the cease-fire agreement.

Palestinian militants have fired dozens of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel. The rocket launches follow airstrikes that Palestinian health officials say killed at least 13 people.

The military said in a statement at least 33 soldiers died when a contingent of troops were attacked by suspected armed terrorist groups in eastern Burkina Faso.

Thousands have been displaced by ongoing clashes between soldiers and M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo. Delegates from the UN Security Council have been to meet some of them at the Bushagara camp in Goma. Also, a new exhibition in Senegal bears witness to the suffering of Gambians during the 22-year rule of former president Yahya Jammeh. Finally, we sample the diversity of Cameroonian cuisine.