SOMALIA

Kenya says a search-and-rescue mission is under way at an African Union base after the terrorist attack Friday.

Militants rammed a suicide car bomb into the gates of the base in Ceel Cado, 340 miles west of Mogadishu, reportedly killing dozens of soldiers.

Japanese aircraft returning from piracy flights around Somalia will also monitor China’s expanding presence in the contested waters.

Unidentified gunmen as well as local residents targeted the agency in Mogadishu Tuesday, five days after Somalia cut ties with Tehran.

The loss of modest aid, arms deals and other support from Iran could be replaced by Saudi Arabia in reward for cutting ties with Iran.

China has continued to urge a de-escalation as more countries take sides in the conflict, sparked by the Saudi execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.

Somalia joins a growing number of countries allied with Saudi Arabia to sever diplomatic ties with Iran.

Authorities also seized weapons that were allegedly intended for use by al-Shabab on New Year’s Eve.

Somali Information Minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir blames the attack on al-Shabab In comments delivered on state radio.

Trump was shown in the 51-minute film making his December call for the United States to bar all Muslims from the country as his supporters cheered.

By banning celebrations of Christmas, the East African country is "trampling on the legitimate rights of Somali Christians," one expert says.

Religious leaders said Christmas celebrations could threaten Somalia's Muslim majority community and inspire attacks from al-Shabab insurgents.

A group of Muslims traveling on a bus ambushed in northern Kenya shielded Christian fellow passengers during the attackers.

Police reportedly say the death toll associated with the blast and ensuing gunfire is likely to rise.

Saudi Arabia announced Tuesday a newly formed, 34-nation military alliance to fight ISIS. Nigeria was among the countries named that was caught off guard by the announcement.

A female United Nations official was killed Monday in a shooting in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, a U.N. representative confirmed.

Abdirizak Mohamed Warsame, 20, of Eagan, which lies south of capital Saint Paul in Dakota County, was arrested and charged Wednesday.

The Islamic State militant group has about 2,000 fighters in Libya, up from just 200 in February, the U.S. Africa Command said.

The 435-mile-long wall along its porous border with Somalia has generated a heated debate.

In his first visit to Africa, Pope Francis asked Christian and Muslim leaders to engage in dialogue to guard against “barbarous” extremist attacks.

Despite security concerns, Pope Francis will not wear a bulletproof vest nor travel in an armored popemobile during his six-day, three-nation tour of Africa.