The Somali government said that the woman was lying for financial gain and that she later admitted that her story was “bogus.” Her husband, and a journalist who interviewed her, have been jailed.

French troops took control overnight of the airport at the last major northern Mali town still in rebel hands, officials said on Wednesday.

Corrupt heads of state are only part of Africa’s problem. Avarice and exploitation are root causes.

Some residents in Gao expressed concern that the northern Mali town was unsafe and short of food and fuel, while in Timbuktu there were reports of looting.

President Goodluck Jonathan promised this week to release $4 million to clean up villages where hundreds of children have died in the world’s worst outbreak of lead poisoning.

Nigerian authorities on Tuesday welcomed a cease-fire declaration by a commander of the militant Islamist sect Boko Haram, but security forces said they would not lower their guard.