Africa


Monbiot: BBC films omit climate change

The BBC make a lot of lovely programs about wildlife and the natural world in Africa, but not one of them mentions climate change — odd no?

War, child soldiers, Africa and Charles Taylor: on trial at the Hague

Liberian leader Charles Taylor yesterday had the dubious honour of being the first African leader to go to trial at the Hague for war crimes, specifically terrorism, murder, rape, sexual slavery, pillage and conscripting children under the age of 15.

Obama to Africa: stop blaming colonialism

Ahead of his Ghana visit, Barack Obama, the son of a Kenyan, has said he’s “probably as knowledgeable about African history as anybody who’s occupied my office,” and believes “Africans are responsible for Africa.”

The world can no longer afford Africa’s poverty

With refugees spilling over borders, pirates hijacking ships, and terrorists finding shelter, it is clear that, although Africa’s solutions are its own, its problems are not, writes Robert Skidelsky.

Ethiopian troops return to Somalia

Less than a year after fleeing in the face of an Islamist insurgency, Ethiopian forces have come back to help prevent a moderate government from collapsing at the hands of militant Islamists.

The sad state of African despotry

They just don’t make kleptocrats the way they used to, laments Kelly McParland.

Africa plagued by bribery

A new study has found the African continent is plagued by bribery at all levels with citizens forking out more than any where else on the planet, the catch is they also have more faith that their governments are doing something about it.

From slums to a shining town on the hill

The citizens of Kaputei, an eco-town rising from the plains south of Nairobi, finally own something that has eluded them their whole lives: a flushing toilet.

The fight for Nigeria’s oil wealth

Nigeria’s oil wealth is the cause of piracy, kidnappings and violence along the Niger Delta.

Shell gets ready to face the music

The petrol multinational could be about to meets its legal fate at the hands of the US justice system.

Obama picks Ghana as first African destination

The White House passed over Kenya, where Mr Obama’s late father was from, in favour of the small nation of Ghana as the site of his first presidential visit to sub-Saharan Africa.

Kofi Annan: Africa must establish a green economy

Africa is being harshly affected by climate change, but it’s not all bad news, says Kofi Annan: climate change opens up new economic opportunities for countries on the continent.

Do condoms spread AIDS? Does the Pope spread genocide?

Pope Benedict XVI demonstrates that the Vatican is not only out of touch with reality, but has no respect for the sanctity of black lives and effectively endorses ethnic genocide by disease, writes Maxine Clarke.

Abstinence doesn’t make the Pope grow fonder

If abstinence doesn’t work for a privileged family like the Palins in the richest country in the world, how’s it going to pan out in Africa?, asks Jeff Sparrow.

Ghana shows democracy can work in Africa

Enlightened despotism can work, provided your despot is genuinely enlightened, writes Charles Richardson.

Crikey Clarifier: Politics in the Congo

What exactly is going on in the Congo? Dr David Dorward explains in the first installment of an exciting new Crikey series.

Conflict in the Congo: a Crikey wrap

UN peacekeeping forces stand by useless as the rebels bump up recruitment of child soldiers and refugees keep pouring out of conflict zones, raising fears of a cholera outbreak in camps…

Conflict in the Congo: a Crikey wrap

Violence, rebel armies sponsored by the Rwandan government, failing cease-fires, Guatemalan militia brought in as peace keeping troops and cholera breaks out in refugee camps… what’s going on?

US08: Obama’s pinko-browno dad and African socialism

So it looks like Obama’s gaffe-gate is going to blow over, but now a new Obama controversey - Obama’s father’s support for African socialism. Say what? writes US correspondent Guy Rundle.

Go west: Africa’s the next big thing

Despite the shudders and misapprehension from many, Africa is rapidly hitting the radar screens of the world’s smartest investors.