Topic: Mauritania

Niger coup: Can Africa use military power for good?

Niger's junta flexed its political and military power in ousting a strongman who overstayed his electoral mandate. Secretly, many locals are happy with the Niger coup.

Beware the Ides of March? A look at March 15 in history

Julius Caesar was forewarned about the "Ides of March." March 15 wasn't his best day.

Why the West Bank won't crown a Miss Palestine

The Palestinian government has indefinitely postponed a Miss Palestine contest in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, where women often wear head scarves in public in deference to traditional Islam.

Top five greenest nations on the planet

Iceland leads the list of the greenest nations. The US fell 22 places in the 2010 Environment Performance Index, but the study's researchers say that "murky" data makes the list imperfect.

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?

What Obama could learn from France about stopping terrorists

To defend itself from terrorist attacks, the US should go on the offensive with a proactive strategy, like France.

African music festival goes smoothly in Mali despite Al Qaeda threats

This weekend's Festival au Desert in Mali ended without incident, but risks remain high as Al Qaeda threatened Monday to kill a French hostage.

Mali moves music festival as tourism threatened by Al Qaeda threat

A string of attacks by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in and around Mali has hurt the tourism mecca of Timbuktu. The popular Mali Festival au Desert was moved closer to the city yesterday for safety.

Al Qaeda rises in West Africa

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab – the terror suspect who allegedly tried to blow up a plane over Detroit on Christmas Day – hails from Nigeria in West Africa. The Monitor takes a look at how the fight against Al Qaeda is going in the region.

Algeria hosts regional summit amid rise in terrorism

The conference focuses on the trans-Sahel, a desert area spanning four N. African countries where Al Qaeda operatives are believed to be training.

A stop sign for human trafficking

Nigeria shows the political will to investigate, prosecute, and convict.

Al Qaeda-linked militant group in Mali executes British hostage

The killing of Edwin Dyer underscores the growing threat posed by militants in North Africa with links to global terrorist groups.

Madagascar 'coup' riles African, international allies

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

In N. Africa, Al Qaeda offshoot claims six Western hostages

The claim by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb that it holds hostages kidnapped more than a month ago fuels fears that the group is expanding its reach.

Ghana's new president: Africa's symbol of a working democracy

John Atta Mills took the oath of office Wednesday after a closely contested race.

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Mauritania hunts Al Qaeda militants

After seizing power in August, the west African country's military government faces its first big security test.

Democracy's misfire in Mauritania

The US should have helped this African nation.

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Spain, Italy: Two tactics for tackling illegal immigration

Italy is using state of emergency powers, while Spain has introduced measures that include paying jobless immigrants to go home.