Topic: Niger

Featured

Opinion 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.

All Content

Ancient, cow-sized knobby lizard discovered in Africa

The eccentric animal presided over a lonely desert some 260 million years ago, when Earth was home to a single continent, Pangaea.
Change Agent Cereal banks empower women and fight famine in Africa's Sahel region

Groups such as the World Food Program and Care are joining forces to create all-women-managed cereal banks in villages throughout the drought-prone Sahel region of Africa. They help protect against famine, but also empower women.
US bounties changes strategy on West African jihadis

The US is offering up to $23 million for information leading to the location of Nigeria's Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau and Al Qaeda operative Mokhtar Belmokhtar.
Change Agent Sharing good news helps break down the myth of our own powerlessness

Scary stories of kidnappings and explosions lead our news feeds, but there are plenty of empowering stories of progress – if we look for them.
Energy Voices Algeria after terrorist attack: Don't count on security promises

Algerian moves to increase security after a terrorist attack on a natural gas facility in January don't address the underlying security threat of doing business there. Energy and other companies must beware of the destabilizing rivalries among Algerian leaders, who use extremist groups for their own ends.
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?
Blue helmet drones? UN prepares to send drones over Africa.

High-tech, unarmed drones in Central and West African states can track guerrillas and swing the intelligence battle; UN chief Ban Ki-moon favors the idea.
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.
Difference Maker Paul Giniès turned a failing African university into a world-class problem-solver

Today 2iE is recognized as a 'center of excellence' producing top-notch home-grown African engineers ready to address the continent's problems.
Focus In Mali, a war ends but instability lingers

The French drove out Islamist rebels in northern Mali. But can France and its African allies translate those victories into regional stability and peace?
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.
Energy Voices Is the future of oil in Tunisia?

Oil industry veteran John Nelson talks to OilPrice.com about the developing interest in Tunisia's energy resources. New bid rounds and forced relinquishments have created an opportunity for new companies to take interest in Tunisia's oil resources.
Abou Zeid killed? Local Malians say it happened, but French not so sure

Abou Zeid killed: Sources in Mali that Al Qaeda commander Abdelhamid Abou Zeid was killed four days ago as French and Malian forces continued their pursuit of Islamist militants in the northern part of the country.
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?
Amid talk of Mali exit, French forces find war in north still hot, not yet over

African and western nations looking for post-war structures: 'There will never, ever be a solution if you don't talk to the Tuaregs,' says Jeremy Keenan, British expert on East Africa.
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.
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.
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.
Terrorism & Security Mali: French bring the troops, world now bringing the funds (+video)

International donors have pledged $455.53 million for an international campaign tackling Islamist militants in Mali.
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.
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.
French and Malian forces push toward key Islamic rebel stronghold: witnesses

Two-week-old Malian war against rebel groups holding the north of the country benefits from French military lead, as troops from surrounding African countries now pitch in. Malian army accused of executions and human rights violations.
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.
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.
Terrorism & Security Mali rebel fighters better prepared than first thought: French officials

Initial French estimates of a brief conflict may be revised as militants are not breaking quickly, French airstrikes continue, and more French troops are on the way.