BBC News Middle East

The World Health Organization (WHO) has used a Syrian airline under US sanctions to transport humanitarian aid to Libya.

The WHO has posted a photograph of a Cham Wings aircraft it had used to ferry 16 tonnes of medicines and supplies from its warehouses in Dubai to Libya's second city Benghazi.

The organisation's representative in Libya Elizabeth Hoff used to be its envoy to Syria for seven years from 2012.

The Syrian private carrier was placed under US sanctions in 2016 for reportedly carrying weapons and foreign fighters to support President Bashar al-Assad's troops against rebels.

Cham Wings is thought to be owned by Mr Assad's brother-in-law.

AFPCopyright: AFP

Egypt will reopen its airspace to Qatari flights following the resumption of relations after a summit in Saudi Arabia.

Civil Aviation Authority chief Ashraf Nowair said Egypt had officially lifted the ban on Qatari flights, according to the Al-Ahram news site.

The Gulf Cooperation Council and Egypt signed an agreement on 5 January that effectively restored ties with Qatar.

So far, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have announced the reopening of their airspace to Qatari flights.

In mid-2017, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and their ally Egypt had cut diplomatic, trade and travel ties with Qatar over accusations that it sponsored terrorism, which Qatar denied.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has left the country for treatment in Germany, less than a month after his return.

He was being treated for Covid-19 for two months until 29 December when he returned home.

The 75-year-old president will be treated for a foot problem related to the coronavirus infection, the Reuters news agency reports.

The president's two-month absence had fuelled speculation over his ability to finish his first term.

"It is hard to be far from one's country," Mr Tebboune was quoted as saying upon his return.

He had contracted the coronavirus in October when some of his close staff tested positive.

Read:

Algerian leader returns home after Covid scare

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Efforts by Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan to try to resolve a long running dispute over a giant dam on the River Nile have once again broken down.

Construction of the hydro electric dam, in the west of Ethiopia, was completed in July last year and Ethiopia started filling the reservoir.

Egypt is extremely concerned that the dam will affect its water supply.

Last year mediation efforts by the United States and the World Bank also failed to resolve the issue.

Sunday's meeting was a short conference call between ministers from the three countries, and it seems it didn’t go well.

The South African official chairing it on behalf of the African Union gave few details.

Ethiopia and Sudan have also issued contradictory statements – partly blaming each other.

As long as the River Nile controversy is unresolved there is a risk it could destabilise the region.

There are other issues that could be undermining efforts to reach a deal.

Sudan and Ethiopia have recently clashed over a border dispute. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also has trouble at home with a conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region.

AFPCopyright: AFP

The convicted former Algerian prime minister Ahmed Ouyahia told an Appeals Court on Saturday that 700 million dinars ($ 5m; £3m) deposited in his account when he was in office were proceeds from a sale of gold bars.

He said the "emirs of the gulf countries" gave him 60 gold bars which he sold in an underground market.

The former prime minister also admitted not declaring the proceeds to tax authorities.

Mr Ouyahia was last in government as prime minister between 2017- 2019 but his lingering reputation is from the 90s when he implemented austerity measures.

He famously told Algerians that "people do not need to eat yogurt" in response to opponents contesting his tough economic measures.

Mr Ouyahia along with other senior officials who served under ousted president Abdelaiz Bouteflika have been prosecuted and jailed for corruption, money laundering and misappropriation of public funds.

But he's currently appealing a charge of corruption and misappropriation of public fund in relation to a scandal involving a car assembling group.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Government officials from Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan are once again holding talks in a bid to try to resolve a long running dispute triggered by the construction of a huge dam on the River Nile.

In July last year the reservoir of the hydro electric dam in the west of Ethiopia started filling with water despite the breakdown of talks between the three countries.

The Addis Ababa government is determined to provide electricity for its population and will also export power.

But Egypt is concerned that during years of drought its water supply will be greatly reduced.

Sudan has warned Ethiopia not to proceed with the second stage of filling the dam before an agreement is reached.

The latest round of talks mediated by the African Union will involve the officials meeting virtually.

More on this story:

• Ethiopia's River Nile dam: How it will be filled
• Why the dam is so controversial
• Who owns the River Nile - and why it matters
• Why the Nile could see a 'water war'

AFPCopyright: AFP

US and Moroccan officials have had talks in Western Sahara on plans to open an American consulate in the disputed territory.

The visit by the US envoy, David Schenker, follows President Trump's controversial decision last month to recognise Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara - where the indigenous Sahrawi people want a state of their own.

Mr Trump's move overturned America's longstanding, neutral position on the dispute, and was part of a deal in which Morocco agreed to re-establish relations with Israel.