Sibut, an important transportation hub, fell without a shot being fired because the Central African Republic Army and forces from neighboring Chad had pulled back, an official said.

The assault took place early Friday morning in Musari, the city where the sect known as Boko Haram first began its guerrilla campaign against Nigeria’s weak central government.

In Kenya, people are so eager to protect their wildlife — and the tourism dollars that safaris bring — that civilians are risking their lives to confront poaching gangs.

The Kenyan government is struggling to win the war in the fight against illegally killed elephants.

Regional negotiators are seeking to arrange talks between the government and rebels.