Topic: Sahel
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5 reasons why Africa is not ready to meet its own security needs – yet
Africa’s experiment in a regional approach to security is serious and laudable, but it will take time to build credible capacity. Here are five reasons why Africa is not ready to meet its own security needs – yet.
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4 ways to prevent natural disasters from becoming human tragedies
The catastrophic impact of climate change – especially on the developing world – is not inevitable. Here are four cutting-edge tools to anticipate and minimize the damage from natural disasters.
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What is Somalia's Al Shabab?
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In Pictures: Monitor photographers in Africa
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Can a 4,000-mile wall of trees stop Sahara Desert's drift?
The pan-African Great Green Wall project aims to build a literal wall of trees to stop the Sahara Desert's southward creep. But is the idea too good to be true?
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French embassy bombing hits embassy and innocent neighbors
The French embassy bombing this morning in Tripoli, Libya, started fires in the embassy itself and several nearby buildings, including homes outside the French compound. Two embassy guards were wounded in the bombing, as was a Libyan girl eating breakfast.
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Africa Monitor Can Africa keep its economic boom from going bust?
Several African economies are among the fastest growing in the world, but to transform cash into social prosperity will require more attentive involvement from the state, writes Lee-Roy Chetty.
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Africa Monitor Why doesn't predicting African famines prevent them?
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network can tip off countries and aid groups about food insecurity in a region, but without the institutions to manage crisis, that does little good.
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Change Agent Can music help heal Mali's war wounds?
One of Mali's biggest stars, the singer-songwriter Salif Keita, says music can help bring peace and reconciliation to his homeland, which has been torn apart by an Islamist uprising in the north.
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Africa Monitor Drones in Niger: What they could mean for US foreign policy in Africa
President Obama recently announced that 100 US troops have been deployed to the poor West African country to run a new surveillance drone base. Is this the beginning of a wider intervention against Al Qaeda allies in the region?
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Africa Monitor Expat kidnapping in Nigeria fuels questions about rising militant presence
The group that claimed responsibility for the attack may have links to Boko Haram, a militant group known for its terror campaigns in the region.
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Energy Voices Pirates want your oil and they are smart enough to get it
Increased security has forced pirates to rethink their strategy for obtaining oil, Alic writes, and they have repeatedly demonstrated that they are capable of moving with the times.
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In Paris, first arrest of Islamist suspects since start of Mali war
Three of the four men arrested on Tuesday were Franco-Congolese and one was Malian, according to police sources.
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Opinion: A better way to keep Islamists at bay in Mali
France says it will withdraw from Mali once an African peacekeeping force is in place. To keep Islamists at bay, the US is considering increasing its military presence in the region. A better approach is to focus on fixing the governance issues that fuel radicalism to begin with.
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Energy Voices Libya confronts energy security dilemma
Libya is doing its best to make a few cosmetic security changes in an atmosphere of growing uncertainty, Alic writes.
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5 reasons why Africa is not ready to meet its own security needs – yet
Africa’s experiment in a regional approach to security is serious and laudable, but it will take time to build credible capacity. Here are five reasons why Africa is not ready to meet its own security needs – yet.
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Opinion: Attacks in Mali, Libya, Algeria show why Africa still needs US support
Attacks by Islamist insurgents on US outposts in Benghazi, Libya, at a gas plant in Algeria, and in Mali expose several reasons for persistent security weakness across Africa. For one thing, many countries are too poor to supply the funds and soldiers for regional peace efforts.
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Change Agent The man who stopped the desert
For decades Yacouba Sawadogo has been using a traditional method to replant trees and help stop the Sahara Desert from overtaking Burkina Faso.
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French, Malian troops continue advancement, restore government in Timbuktu
France and Mali's fast-moving offensive, using air strikes to target militant bases and strongholds, has successfully pushed Islamists further north. On Sunday, troops worked to secure Timbuktu and its ancient historic sites.
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Energy Voices Chevron explores Morocco oil, undeterred by Algeria crisis
Chevron has signed agreements with Morocco officials that give the US company rights to explore for oil in three offshore sites, Alic writes. Chevron and other oil majors are hardly shaken by recent events in the North African Sahel, she adds, including the Algeria hostage crisis.
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On North Africa's western flank, long-simmering conflict causes unease
Morocco has strengthened its hold on the contested – and resource-rich – Western Sahara. But efforts to maintain the status quo could renew unrest, adding to the current instability across North Africa.
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A town on Mali's frontline switches back and forth
The recent history of Diabaly calls into question the quality of the Malian troops that are needed to hold on to such areas cleared by the French military intervention.
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French forces may have captured key Mali town for second victory in war(+video)
Malian officials say militants have given up their 4x4 vehicles, making them vulnerable to French air operations. Reuters journalists north of Bamako saw French and Malian flags hung side by side and one national paper ran a headline today: 'Thank you France, thank you Francois Hollande.' Still, it is early days.
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Terrorism & Security After deaths and escapes, Algeria hostage crisis still not over
Islamist militants have taken gas plant workers from at least ten countries - including the United States - hostage in the Saharan desert.
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Islamists promise fight across Sahara, but response disjointed (+video)
Foreign military intervention in Africa looked impossible - until last week. French launched airstrikes in Mali. Then European and American oil workers got kidnapped in Algeria.
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Terrorism & Security Algerian hostage crisis heightens as scores are reported dead (+video)
According to Algerian news sources, some 30 Algerians and 15 foreigners have escaped the natural gas field, and another 35 hostages have reportedly died in an airstrike.
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France beefs up security in wake of Mali intervention
French soldiers are patrolling at some of the country's most recognizable tourist destinations and institutions, following weekend air strikes against Islamist rebels in the former French colony of Mali.
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France reports security agent killed in special forces mission in Somalia
The same day France launched air strikes against Islamist militants in Mali, an unrelated special forces operation in Somalia resulted in the death of one commando, as well as the hostage French forces were attempting to rescue. Denis Allex, a secret agent held since 2009, is thought to be dead.
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As French forces hit rebels in Mali, Paris wants to avoid Europe's Afghanistan (+video)
The poor showing by Mali's Army against Islamist radicals in the key city of Konna this week has France worried enough to send troops.
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