In This Issue:

- Leading the News

- United States – Africa Relations

- West Africa

- Sub-Saharan Africa

- General Africa News

- Excerpt from Leading the News:

Nigeria -

On March 6th, Boko Haram militants killed at least 45 people during an attack on the remote Nigerian village of Njaba. According to witnesses, the insurgents started shooting into houses around dawn. The attack was not immediately known to Nigerian officials because of the remoteness of the village. Njaba is close to the town of Damboa and located south of the Borno state capital of Maiduguri.

On March 7th, Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram posted an audio message on Twitter pledging allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). In the recording, a man claiming to be Boko Haram leader Abu Bakr Shekau offered the group’s support and said Boko Haram militants will hear and obey ISIL in times of difficulty and prosperity. Nigerian Government Spokesman Mike Omeri said the audio message confirmed the government’s previous concerns about Boko Haram’s international ties.