Topic: Africa

You Paid $100 Million for Obama's Trip to Africa & You Won't Even Get a Photo

Reuters

The Obamas' vacation could cost taxpayers in the vicinity of $100 million for hundreds of Secret Service agents, 14 bulletproof limos, and much, much more, but there is more important outrage: We're not even going to get another awesome picture of a president on safari!

By Connor Simpson

Jun 8, 2013

Nelson Mandela Hospitalized (Again) for a Lung Infection

The 94-year-old former South African president Nelson Mandela is in "serious but stable" condition after being admitted to the hospital for a recurrence of a lingering lung infection for the third time in eight months on Saturday. 

Comments | 430 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 14, 2013

If U.S.-Trained Troops in the Congo Rape 6-Year-Olds, How Do We Train Troops?

Troops of the Congolese Army trained by a U.S. Special Forces team went on to commit mass rape and murder of women and children while fleeing rebel forces last year, according to a new United Nations report, raising questions not just about these particular atrocities but surrounding the United States's Africa Command operations in general.

Comments | 1,440 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 4, 2013

What It's Like Being Eaten by a Hippo

Paul Templer survived a trip few can claim they've returned from. Namely, he was inside a hippo's stomach and lived to tell the tale. 

Comments | 5,608 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Jan 29, 2013

Zimbabwe Is Down to Its Last $217

There are cash-strapped governments and there are broke governments. And then there's Zimbabwe, which, after paying last week's government salaries, has just $217 left in the bank.

Comments | 236,556 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Jan 28, 2013

U.S. Drone Base Would Make Africa the New Home of the War on Terror

The New York Times reports today that the Pentagon is planning to install drone base in Niger, a move that almost certainly guarantees a long-term U.S. presence in North Africa.

Comments | 1,816 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Jan 27, 2013

France Literally Went All the Way to Timbuktu to Stop the Malian Rebels

People in northern Mali celebrated on Sunday night after French troops won a series of key victories over the Islamist rebels who've been terrorizing the region for weeks.

Comments | 2,138 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Jan 25, 2013

White House Now Connecting Al Qaeda to Algeria Attack via 'Mr. Marlboro'

The Obama administration says it believes that the militants responsible for the recent terror attack were working with "elements of Al Qaeda," as they attempt to solidify the bigger link between Algeria, Mali, and the worldwide fight against extremists.

Comments | 172 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Jan 11, 2013

French Troops Intervene to Stop Terrorist Rebels in Mali

In an attempt to defend the troubled government from Islamic extremists threatening to bring it down, French military forces have entered the West African country.

Comments | 1,365 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Sep 4, 2012

The Militarization of African Elephant Poaching

At Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, wildlife rangers are equipped with rocket launchers, assault rifles, machine guns which they'll need, as The New York Times reports today, because elephant tusks have become the latest conflict resource in Africa and the target of African armies. 

Comments | 1,902 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Aug 27, 2012

Terrible Idea: Stealing Cell Phones from Ebola Patients

We learned two things over the weekend, the first being that in the Kibaale District of Uganda, some people will steal your cell phone even if you're dying of Ebola. The second? That you shouldn't steal cell phones from Ebola patients.

Comments | 2,199 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Aug 23, 2012

Trimming the Times

Medicare, Lil Wayne, and Women at Google

A summary of the best reads found behind the paywall of The New York Times.

Comments | 300 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Aug 15, 2012

Trimming the Times

Pot-Growing Grannies, the Rainbow Room, Ryan and Rand

A summary of the best reads found behind the paywall of The New York Times.

Comments | 2,572 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Aug 6, 2012

Inhospitable Bees Run Hillary Clinton Out of Malawi

Hillary Clinton spent six and half hours in the landlocked African nation of Malawi--and some of that time was apparently spent fleeing from a swarm of rampaging, sting-happy bees.

Comments | 4,801 Views

By John Hudson

Jun 21, 2012

In Uganda, a Male Circumcision Campaign Goes Horribly Wrong

Is there anything more terrifying (to a guy, at least) than a pack of determined males trying to cut off part of your penis? In the southern Ugandan town of Mbale, where a non-coercive circumcision campaign aimed at reducing HIV transmission has metastatized into forced circumcisions, that nightmare scenario is a reality.

Comments | 5,425 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Jun 14, 2012

The U.S. Military Is Expanding Its Spy Network in Africa

The Washington Post reports that U.S. military operations in Africa are expanding into a wide-reaching network of air bases, spy planes, and Special Operations units targeting terrorist and guerrilla groups across the continent

Comments | 2,550 Views

By Adam Martin

Apr 30, 2012

Kony 2012's Most Motivated Viewers

A few months before Invisible Children released Kony 2012, the U.S. sent about 100 troops to Central Africa to help hunt Joseph Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army, and while the video's impact is debatable, it's certainly helping to keep those soldiers on the job.

Comments | 1,035 Views

By Adam Martin

Apr 26, 2012

Charles Taylor Finally Convicted of War Crimes

He's the first head of state to be convicted of a war crime in an international court since the Nuremberg trials and while former Liberian President Charles Taylor's fate won't be as gruesome as that of the victims of the atrocities he supported, they're still pretty pleased with it.

Comments | 438 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Apr 20, 2012

Five Best Green Stories

How Much Does a Dolphin Cost?; Offshore Drilling Is Still Risky

The Washington Post on offshore drilling, The Guardian on the cost of the BP spill, Bloomberg BusinessWeek on solar cells, The New York Times on India's coal, and the Associated Press on Kenya's dairy shortage

Comments | 717 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Mar 29, 2012

African Presidents Decide Visiting Mali Not Such a Good Idea

The presidents of four African countries were flying to Mali Thursday when their flight was turned around, but it's not clear why they had second thoughts.

Comments | 172 Views

By Adam Martin

Mar 23, 2012

Mali's President Reported Safe as Some Foreign Funds Disappear

The location and status of Mali's president have been unknown since he was ousted in a coup on Thursday, but on Friday the African Union said President Amadou Toumani Touré was safe and near the capital, right after it suspended Mali's membership.

Comments | 395 Views

By John Hudson

Mar 23, 2012

It's Looking Like Mali Is Sliding Back Into Authoritarianism

As the the coup d'etat in Mali enters its second day, international observers fear the country's drift from democracy will become permanent.

Comments | 179 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Dec 15, 2011

Victoria's Secret: Its Cotton Is Picked by African Children

Whatever precious sexual norms Victoria's Secret's skimpy underwear violates doesn't compare to the fact that the lingerie maker uses cotton picked by child laborers in Burkina Faso.

Comments | 4,394 Views

By John Hudson

Dec 7, 2011

Home News From Afar

The World Reacts to Clinton's Gay Rights Speech

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's bold U.N. speech condemning the discrimination of gay, lesbian and transgendered people across the world had a significant impact in the U.S. But how's it playing around the world? 

Comments | 23,974 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Nov 11, 2011

Black Rhinos Are Now Extinct in Western Africa

Two subspecies of rhinoceros have been declared extinct this month, highlighting the problem of poachers who kill the beasts only for their horns. 

Comments | 6,897 Views

By Adam Martin

Oct 14, 2011

What Are U.S. Troops Doing in Central Africa?

Obama ordered combat troops to deal with a group called the Lord's Resistance Army

Comments | 3,887 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Oct 14, 2011

Obama Has Ordered Combat Troops to Central Africa

The troops are already on the ground to fight the Lord's Resistance Army

Comments | 3,269 Views

By Uri Friedman

Sep 27, 2011

Rwanda's President: Binge Tweeter

Paul Kagame rants on Twitter more than your typical head of state

Comments | 1,361 Views

By Uri Friedman

Sep 21, 2011

Propaganda Parade

China Not Fooled by Gary Locke, Zimbabwe Snubbed by Chicago

It's time for our regular roundup of propaganda from around the world

Comments | 2,748 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Aug 22, 2011

Chart of the Day

The Famine in Africa Gets Mapped

Data predicts the situation in Africa will get worse before it gets better

Comments | 2,014 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Aug 16, 2011

The World Bank Blames African Famine on Bad Policy

Drought isn't something Africa hasn't seen before

Comments | 517 Views

By Uri Friedman

Aug 2, 2011

With Media Distracted, There's No Rush to Aid Somalia

The data suggests the media is focusing more on Norway and the debt crisis

Comments | 2,283 Views

By Uri Friedman

Aug 1, 2011

The Horrible Reports Coming Out of Somalia

Somali refugees lack food to break the Ramadan fast and are vulnerable to rape

Comments | 3,086 Views

By Uri Friedman

Jul 14, 2011

How George Clooney's Satellite Group Is Identifying Mass Graves in Sudan

Clooney established the Satellite Sentinel Project to serve as an "early warning system"

Comments | 2,719 Views

By Elien Becque

Jul 9, 2011

Fighting Pauses for Celebration in South Sudan

The world's newest country has numerous challenges

Comments | 950 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 8, 2011

Sudan Recognizes South's Independence

Secession is official at midnight

Comments | 517 Views

By Caitlin Dickson

Jul 5, 2011

Today's Best

Five Best Tuesday Columns

On drug labels, Tibet, and Dominique Strauss-Kahn

Comments | 1,061 Views

By Uri Friedman

Jun 3, 2011

Nigeria Police Raid Stops 32 Pregnant Teens from Selling Their Babies

The teenaged girls would recieve from $160 to, if they had a boy, $190

Comments | 1,769 Views

By Caitlin Dickson

Jun 2, 2011

Today's Best

Five Best Thursday Columns

On the shrinking Nile, political sex scandals, and interrogation deniers

Comments | 1,035 Views

By Caitlin Dickson

May 12, 2011

Today's Best

Five Best Thursday Columns

On political wives, female genital mutilation, and the torture debate

Comments | 851 Views

By Heather Horn

May 9, 2011

NATO Denies Ignoring Pleas for Help from Migrant Boat

A harrowing Guardian report is being denied by European military officials

Comments | 121 Views

By Uri Friedman

Apr 29, 2011

Arrest of Opposition Leader, Caught on Video, Sparks Riots in Uganda

Weeks-long protests over food and fuel prices have reached the capital of Kampala

Comments | 1,014 Views

By Caitlin Dickson

Feb 28, 2011

Danish Family Captured by Somali Pirates

Somali pirates veer from the norm as another group of non-commercial sailors is taken hostage, the BBC reports

Comments | 357 Views

By Uri Friedman

Feb 28, 2011

How the Libyan Revolution Could Play Out

For days, Muammar Qaddafi has been cracking down on protesters as they advance toward Tripoli. How is this all likely to end?

Comments | 242 Views

By Uri Friedman

Feb 24, 2011

By Uri Friedman

Feb 24, 2011

How Much Control Does Qaddafi Still Have Over Libya?

The Libyan ruler has blamed the uprising on al Qaeda and declared himself a "symbolic leader" as he fortifies control over Tripoli and rebels advance to the capital

Comments | 195 Views

By Caitlin Dickson

Feb 23, 2011

Is It Worth It to Try Somali Pirates?

The U.S. is looking to prosecute the pirates involved in Tuesday's killing of American hostages

Comments | 287 Views

By Uri Friedman

Feb 23, 2011

Libyan Pilots Defect Midair

The pilots parachuted out of their plane instead of attacking opposition-controlled Benghazi

Comments | 172 Views

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