Topic: Guinea-Bissau

Democracy 101: tiny Lesotho holds peaceful election

After a number of setbacks, with disputed elections leading to civil war, the African kingdom of Lesotho holds an election that boots the incumbent. A coalition government is in the works.

West African bloc prepares to send troops into Mali and Guinea-Bissau

Two separate military coups in Mali and Guinea-Bissau threaten the stability of the region. But will an intervention by ECOWAS actually resolve these conflicts or just complicate them?

Drill for oil in Somalia? Why not, says Australian firm

Australia-based Jacka Resources plans to start oil exploration in Somaliland, a region of Somalia that declared itself independent in 1991. Nice work if you can get it.

Bishop Tutu urges peace in upcoming Lesotho elections

Political violence has flared ahead of May 26 Lesotho elections, but Archbishop Desmond Tutu urges candidates to keep the peace and respect election results. 

Beyond Kony 2012, child soldiers are used in most civil wars

Kony 2012 campaign calls for plastering posters everywhere tonight. But the use of child soldiers goes far beyond warlord Kony and his LRA. It is the norm in most civil wars. Governments, too, use children to fight. One way to stop it: Deny military aid to these governments.

Coup predictions: Africa doesn't look as volatile as you might think

Recent coups in Mali and Guinea-Bissau don't amount to a big continental shift, according to a new statistical analysis.

Good Reads: lighter, messier African conflicts, and burning Qurans

How the post-cold-war era has given birth to smaller, messier conflicts; and how the Quran burning incident in Afghanistan could have been much worse. Seriously.

Guns, migrants, mercenaries: Qaddafi's loss is the Sahel's gain

Aside from Qaddafi and his family, up to one million migrants from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso may leave war-torn Libya, and arms from Qaddafi's arsenal are already showing up in conflict zones as far away as Somalia.

West Africa Rising: Heroin, cocaine traffickers find more buyers at home

European consumption of South America’s cocaine doubled in the decade. Much of that trade comes through Africa, leaving a trail of domestic users.

West Africa Rising: Could Guinea-Bissau jack up fishing rates on the EU?

The once debt-encumbered country’s four-year fishing agreement with the European Union expires next month. The world’s wealthiest monetary zone currently pays just 7 million euros or $10 million a year.

Cleaner election boost's Nigeria legitimacy – and regional clout

Nigeria recently took a major stand in the conflict in Ivory Coast. The recent presidential election has given Nigeria far more credibility as a leader in West Africa.

The peacebuilders: Making conflict resolution permanent

Out of the UN comes a new idea for ending war. Peacebuilders: An intensive process that gives permission for foreign 'interference' in conflict resolution.

As Gbabgo seizes Central Bank assets in Ivory Coast, a look at the arcane institution

West Africa's Central Bank – perhaps its most important institution – may also be its least transparent. But in the midst of Ivory Coast's conflict, a tradition of secrecy may be an early casualty.

Guinea waits with bated breath for election decision

The Guinea military is hoping to tamp down violence while the country waits for a Supreme Court decision on last week's election results, which have been questioned by the losing candidate.

Halloween brings major elections to West Africa

West Africa has several critical votes on the horizon that could indicate whether democratic progress is substantial and real. Cote d'Ivoire and Niger both hold votes on Halloween Sunday.

Is the EU giving up on Guinea-Bissau military reform?

Guinnea-Bissau is an example of failed military reforms, despite efforts from 16 EU advisers over two years, says a Chatham House analyst. What comes next for a country that's now a major stopover point for cocaine to Europe?

Air Al Qaeda: Are Latin America's drug cartels giving Al Qaeda a lift?

There is growing concerns that Al Qaeda in Africa and Latin American drug cartels are working together. Latin American cocaine flights go to Africa, en route to Europe. Are Al Qaeda members on the empty planes back to Latin America?

Madagascar 'coup' riles African, international allies

New leader Andry Rajoelina has asserted control as the South African Development Community threatens to suspend Madagascar.

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