Central African Republic President Francois Bozize fled Bangui as Seleka rebels seized control of the city March 24, Reuters reported.

France has deployed troops to the Central African Republic after Seleka rebels clashed with government forces in the capital of Bangui, Reuters reported March 23.

The office of French President Francois Hollande "definitively confirmed" the February death of al Qaeda-linked North African warlord Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, AP reported March 23.

A column of fighters from the Seleka rebel coalition advanced on the nation's capital March 23 from the northwest, while government forces are already engaging rebels attacking from the northeast, Reuters reported.

The Central African Republic's army halted a rebel advance north of Bangui, the capital, after deploying an attack helicopter and ground troops March 22, an unnamed senior regional military source said, Reuters reported.

The Seleka rebels in the Central African Republic urged civilians and the military to remain calm as their fighters prepared to enter Bangui, the capital, AFP reported March 22.

The Seleka rebel coalition in the Central African Republic clashed with government forces March 21 after rejecting a peace deal from President Francois Bozize and threatening to renew its advance on Bangui, the Central African capital, a coalition spokesman said, Reuters reported.

At least 20 South Sudanese soldiers were killed and 30 wounded in a clash with Yau Yau rebels, officials said March 21, Africa Review reported.

A man detonated an explosive vest outside a police post in Mogadishu's main market March 21, killing himself and wounding four people, AFP reported. The suicide bomber had attempted to enter the police post at Baraka market and blew himself up after he was stopped. Though the identity and affiliation of the man is unknown, the militant group al Shabaab has launched hit-and-run attacks in Mogadishu since pulling out of the Somali capital in 2011 and decentralizing its forces throughout the country.

The National Committee for Defending the Rights of the Unemployed, an advocacy group in Algeria, has called for a second rally in the city of Aghwat on March 30, El Bilad reported March 21.