Topic: West Africa

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10 best books of March, according to Amazon's editors

Amazon editorial director Sara Nelson talks about the 10 new releases she's calling the best books of March.

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Hague court 'expected' Nigeria to arrest Sudan's Bashir. It didn't. (+video)

Instead of arresting the Sudanese leader who faces 10 charges, including genocide and war crimes, Nigeria gave him the red carpet treatment.
In Nigeria, Sudan's Bashir plays cat and mouse with international court

Nigeria gives Sudan's president an honor guard and red carpet treatment, even though he is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes.
Will Ghana's judges turn the West African democracy on its head?

Ghana's political opposition says the December 2012 presidential election was stolen from them. Now, the country braces for the Supreme Court's ruling.
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.
Africa Monitor Why is Africa's healthcare so far behind the rest of the world?

As a continent, Africa won't achieve most of its health-related Millennium Development Goals. Cash and access continue to be major impediments to healthcare in the region.
Nigerian militant attack highlights Army's weaknesses

The latest attack by the Islamist group Boko Haram left 55 dead Tuesday. Experts say the fighting is unlikely to let up until the Nigerian military agrees to negotiate.
Monitor Breakfast Why America's top general is wary of US military intervention in Syria

Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a Monitor-sponsored breakfast he has doubts about whether US military action in Syria would achieve three key aims.

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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?
Ghana is rising, but so are its dump-yards of cast-off appliances

As Ghana's economy booms, its consumers no longer want used appliances shipped in from the West. Now that 'e-waste' is filling dumps and causing environmental woes.
Africa Monitor In tiny Lesotho, Chinese immigrants set up shop

Several thousand Chinese now work in the mountainous southern African nation as shopkeepers and traders, but some claim their presence undercut local entrepreneurs.
Opinion Motive in Boston bombings: Look to tribal code of honor

The Tsarnaev brothers, suspects in the Boston bombings, are ethnic Chechens, stemming from a tribal society in which a code of honor and revenge plays a major role. As questions turn to motive, this code may be far more relevant than the brothers' views of Islam.
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?
Global News Blog French in Mali face Islamist insurgency of unknown strength

Insurgent raids into Timbuktu and Gao in supposedly secured northern cities put a question mark over France's aspirations to wrap up its military intervention in Mali soon.
Africa Monitor US military in Africa faces uncertain year after Benghazi, sequestration

AFRICOM faces pressure to better protect US interests on the African continent, even as the sequester threatens crucial portions of its budget.
Change Agent Sierra Leone combats the outrage of child soldiering

The Child Soldier Initiative will train the army and police in how to engage with children in combat situations, as well as educate youths about the problem.
In Mali fight, Chad proves a powerful partner for France

Chad may be a poor country marred by frequent turmoil, but its forces have fought very effectively against Islamist rebels in northern Mali.
10 best books of March, according to Amazon's editors

Amazon editorial director Sara Nelson talks about the 10 new releases she's calling the best books of March.
Opinion Israeli airstrike on Syria shows strategic strength

Despite pledges from Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah that use of force will be met with force, there has been no retaliation since Israel's airstrike inside Syria Jan. 30. Israel clearly retains the strategic high ground in the region, with full knowledge that its enemies are bogged down.
Terrorism & Security French, Malian troops regain control of Gao after rebels raid by canoe

Islamist rebels slipped into the strategic city of Gao by crossing the Niger River with canoes over the weekend.
In Mali, two suicide bombings could indicate new wave of violence

Two suicide bombings, in nearly the same spot at a checkpoint outside of Gao, could indicate another wave of violence from Islamic militants in Mali. French and Malian troops had found industrial-strength explosives in the city earlier in the week.
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.
Campaign against female genital mutilation gaining ground support, results

Nearly 140 million girls and women worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation. But experts say there is reason to believe the practice is waning in many of the 29 countries where it is most widespread.
Can Timbuktu stay pacified after Islamist rebels are run out?

With gun caches still to round up and ethnic rivalries to negotiate as thousands of residents return, can Timbuktu avoid spasms of 'vengeance'?
Backchannels The French are winning handily in Mali

Enough with the facile Vietnam and Afghanistan analogies.