AFRICA ARCHIVE :

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Christian Science Monitor, 27 Dec 09, by Scott Baldauf
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.'

Christian Science Monitor, 21 Dec 09, by Louis Charbonneau
UN: Guinea military junta leader Camara responsible for massacre
'A leaked UN report finds Guinea military junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara directly responsible for the massacre of more than 150 pro-democracy demonstrators in September.'

New York Times, 09 Dec 09, by Jeffrey Gettleman
U.N. Told Not to Join Congo Army in Operation
'United Nations peacekeeping officials were explicitly warned months ago by their legal advisers not to participate in combat operations with the Congolese Army if there were a risk that Congolese soldiers might abuse human rights, internal documents show. But the mission went forward — and the abuses took place as feared.'

Reuters, 09 Dec 09, by Abdi Guled and Abdi Sheikh
Somalia ready to escalate war against rebels
'Sheikh Sharif Ahmed's fragile administration controls only a few districts of Mogadishu and comes under near daily attack by rebels including the hardline al Shabaab group, which Washington says is al Qaeda's proxy in the failed Horn of African state.'

Christian Science Monitor, 03 Dec 09, by Mike Pflanz
Al Shabab blamed for Somalia bombing. Is Al Qaeda's influence rising?
'US government officials are convinced that Osama bin Laden's terror organization is strengthening its links to its Somali proxy – in part by sending trainers to the Horn of Africa to instruct new jihadists there.'

Christian Science Monitor, 02 Dec 09, by Scott Baldauf
Rwanda rebel leaders: US, French, Spanish, and Congo business links
'Leaked UN report shows FDLR, a brutal Rwandan rebel group operating in eastern Congo, operates gold, tin, and coltran mines. Key leaders still free in the US and France.'

Christian Science Monitor, 18 Nov 09, by Gordon Lubold
Lesson from foiled pirate attack on Maersk Alabama? Fire back.
'Monday's thwarted pirate attack on the Maersk Alabama was the first time a large cargo ship with an armed security team were able to repel an attack, according to US Navy commanders.'

Fox News, broadcast: 21 Nov 09
Pirates of the 21st Century
'Somali pirates continue to cause terror on the high seas. Currently there are at least 11 ships being held along with more than 200 hostages. They have turned piracy into a multimillion dollar, well-organized business.'

Christian Science Monitor, 17 Nov 09, by Max Delany and Scott Baldauf
Germany arrests Congo rebel leaders
'Two Rwandan Hutu rebel leaders were arrested by Germany, charged with directing war crimes. Could this mark a turning point in Congo conflict?'

Christian Science Monitor, 10 Nov 09, by Shashank Bengali, McClatchy Newspapers
Eritrea: Africa's version of North Korea?
'In a rare interview, Eritrea's president Isaias Afwerki denies helping Islamic militants in Somalia, and says his country doesn't need elections.'

Christian Science Monitor, 02 Nov 09, by Scott Baldauf
Are Somalia's pirates linked to Al Qaeda?
'Reports that pirates may want to swap a British couple they captured last week for fellow pirates detained by foreign navies have fueled speculation that the pirates are linking up with Islamist militants.'

Christian Science Monitor, 03 Nov 09, by Kari Barber
Equatorial Guinea tests Obama vow to hold African leaders accountable
'President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo – who today pardoned British mercenary Simon Mann – is widely seen as one of Africa's most corrupt leaders. But will oil interests prevent a shift in US policy?'

Washington Post, 20 Oct 09, by Mary Beth Sheridan
North-south conflict to be emphasis of new U.S. policy on Sudan
'The Obama administration's new policy toward Sudan, formally announced Monday, turns the spotlight back on where the troubled nation's problems first began: the split between the Islamic north and the largely animist and Christian south.'

Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct 09, by Scott Baldauf
Is Obama's new Sudan policy too soft?
'Human rights groups say Obama's Sudan policy is soft, but African leaders warn that US policy is too tough and may prompt a regional backlash.'

Christian Science Monitor, 20 Oct 09, by Mxolisi Ncube
Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai asks region to rein in Mugabe
D'ays after he 'disengaged' from his country's unity government, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai flew to Mozambique today as part of a regional tour for support.'

New York Times, 14 Oct 09, by Adam Nossiter
With Obama in White House, U.S. Words Have New Weight in Guinea
'... the Obama administration sent a senior diplomat here to condemn the massacre of dozens of unarmed civilians protesting Guinea’s military government in September. ... But there is another competitor for influence here, the Chinese, who are seen as supporting the junta ...'

Washington Post, 03 Oct 09, by Mary Beth Sheridan
Leader Says Somalia's Plight Is Urgent
'The president of war-torn Somalia said Friday that he urgently needs help to beat back an insurgency linked to al-Qaeda, adding that he has received only a fraction of the $200 million pledged at a U.N.-sponsored donors conference last spring to support his fragile government's security forces.'

New York Times, 07 Oct 09, by Adam Nossiter
U.S. Envoy Protests Violence in Guinea
'The Obama administration has injected itself into the crisis in Guinea, taking the unusual step of sending a senior diplomat to protest the mass killings and rapes here last week.'

Christian Science Monitor, 02 Oct 09, by Laura Derby
Q&A: Guinea military junta leader, Cpt. Moussa Dadis Camara
'Guinea erupted into violence Monday when protesters rallied against rumors that Dadis Camara would run for president. Prior to the violence, he sat down for a rare interview with a Westerner.'

Christian Science Monitor, 29 Sep 09, by Scott Baldauf
Q & A: How did Guinea erupt into violence?
'Troops loyal to military junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara fired live rounds into a crowd of protesters Monday in clashes that killed more than 150. Why?'

AllAfrica.com, 30 Sep 09, by Stephen Kaufman
U.S. Calls Military Crackdown 'Brazen and Inappropriate'
'The Guinean military used "brazen and inappropriate" force against unarmed and peaceful demonstrators September 28, the U.S. State Department said in a statement issued September 29. The statement called on the country's ruling military junta to release opposition leaders and allow a return to civilian rule "as soon as possible."'

Reuters, 01 Oct 09, by Daniel Wallis
Scenarios: What do rebel clashes mean for Somalia?
'Clashes between rival Islamist rebels in southern Somalia's Kismayu port have raised fears that the fighting could spread to other parts of the country.'

Washington Post, 30 Sep 09, by Dan Eggen
A Cold War Man, a Hot War and a Legal Gray Area
'Reagan Aide's Dealings Raise Questions on Americans' Involvement with Sudan'

Washington Post, 29 Sep 09, by Stephanie McCrummen
U.S. Envoy's Outreach to Sudan Is Criticized as Naive
'The volatility of this East African nation -- from the Darfur conflict to the threat of renewed civil war in the south -- is becoming a test of how President Obama will reconcile a policy of engagement with earlier statements blasting a government he said had "offended the standards of our common humanity."'

Reuters, 23 Sep 09, by Darren Ennis
Somalia risks being "new Afghanistan"
'Somalia will become "the new Afghanistan" unless Western nations give its U.N.-backed government the necessary tools to prevent al Qaeda from getting a foothold in Africa, the EU's humanitarian chief said on Wednesday.'

Christian Science Monitor, 15 Sep 09, by Scott Baldauf
Obama's first Somalia strike hits Al Qaeda suspect
'The killing of an accused senior Al Qaeda militant in Somalia yesterday could help to sever Al Qaeda's link to militants taking refuge in Somalia. But it could also stir up more unrest in a country that is already fighting a low-level civil war, pushing Islamist militants toward retaliation against what they perceive to be American targets, including the weak, Western-backed Somalian government.'

New York Times, 16 Sep 09, by Jeffrey Gettleman
In Somalia, a Leader Is Raising Hopes for Stability
'The odds against Sheik Sharif are still long, but his moderate Islamist government is widely considered to be Somalia’s best chance for stability in years.'

Christian Science Monitor, 07 Sep 09, by Scott Baldauf
Is Sudan sharing its oil wealth properly?
'A new report by the London-based rights group Global Witness indicates discrepancies in the reporting of oil revenue – a key sticking point in a fragile North-South peace accord.'

BBC News, 27 Aug 09
War in Sudan's Darfur 'is over'
'The six-year war between forces loyal to Sudan's government and rebels in Darfur has effectively ended, the UN's military commander in the region says.'

Christian Science Monitor, 24 Aug 09, by Shashank Bengali, McClatchy Newspapers
Nigerian amnesty deal with militants unravels
'Three weeks into a cease-fire pact, some rebels are turning themselves in. But the main group – MEND – say they'll attack oil facilities on Sept. 15.'

Christian Science Monitor, 26 Aug 09, by Heba Aly
How Kenya's 'Little Mogadishu' became a hub for Somali militants
'The Somali enclave of Eastleigh in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, is now a recruiting and financial center for hardline Islamists fighting in neighboring Somalia.'

Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug 09, by Scott Baldauf
Will Clinton press for peace in Congo?
'The US should encourage Congolese President Joseph Kabila to move beyond a military response to rebel groups to a more strategic effort to bring lasting peace, say security experts and human rights advocates.'

BBC News, 13 Aug 09
Khartoum denies arming militias
'Officials in the north of Sudan have rejected accusations they armed militias who killed dozens in recent ethnic clashes in the south.'

Washington Post, 10 Aug 09, by Stephanie McCrummen
Congo's Rape Epidemic Worsens During U.S.-Backed Military Operation
'For the women of eastern Congo, a U.S.-backed Congolese military operation meant to save them from abusive rebels has turned into a nightmare of its own.'

New York Times, 06 Aug 09, by Jeffrey Gettleman
Clinton Offers Assurances to Somalis
'Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reiterated the U.S. commitment to help the fledgling security services. ... She warned of unspecified consequences for Eritrea if it continued what she said was its support for Al Shabab and its efforts to destabilize Somalia.'

BBC News, 06 Aug 09
Clinton to hold key Somalia talks
'US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due to hold talks with Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed in Kenya's capital, Nairobi. She is expected to endorse Somalia's beleaguered transitional government amid fears the country is becoming a haven for Islamist militants.'

Christian Science Monitor, 05 Aug 09, by Scott Baldauf
Clinton maneuvers testy time for US, Africa
'In Kenya, she expressed dismay over rejection of human-rights tribunal – but emphasized shared trade and security interests.'

New York Times, 04 Aug 09, by Jeffrey Gettleman
In Africa, Clinton May Face a Kenyan Crisis
'Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in Kenya on Tuesday night at the beginning of an 11-day Africa tour and at a time when the American government is getting increasingly fed up with Kenya’s leaders.'

New York Times/Reuters, 05 Aug 09
Clinton Seeks to Bolster Somalia's Weak Government
'U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets Somalia's president on Thursday, showing U.S. support for a fragile government which is battling against militants including al Shabaab insurgents.'

Washington Post, 06 Aug 09, by Stephanie McCrummen
In Somalia, a Twist on 'Handshake Diplomacy'
'Last week, pro-Shabab Web sites were speculating about a possible shake between Ahmed and Clinton, arguing that, were it to come to fruition, it would prove that Ahmed had lost credibility with Islamists.'

Washington Post/AP, 04 Aug 09, by Katharine Houreld, AP
Warnings Ignored in Nigeria, Clerics Say
'Nigerian authorities ignored dozens of warnings about a violent Islamist sect until it attacked police stations and government buildings last week in a bloodbath that killed more than 700 people, Muslim clerics and an army official said.'

Washington Post, 02 Aug 09, by Stephanie McCrummen
A Conflict's Deadly Ripple Effects
'Fighting in Congo Has Killed Millions, Most of Them Succumbing To Displacement, Flights Through Harsh Jungles and Lack of Care'

Christian Science Monitor, 02 Aug 09, by Matthew Clark
Congo: Confronting rape as a weapon of war
'In the rape capital of the world, some are seeking to curb sexual violence by focusing on men's role in preventing it.'

Washington Post, 04 Aug 09, by Stephanie McCrummen
Nearly Forgotten Forces of WWII
'In Congo, Old Soldiers Tell of Difficult Days Under Colonial Command'

Christian Science Monitor, 29 Jul 09, by Scott Baldauf
Nigerian forces move in on Islamist radicals
'Boko Haram has attacked schools, police stations, and other symbols of state power. While the group is relatively minor, the attacks underscore a widespread public distrust of the government.'

Christian Science Monitor, 28 Jul 09, by Scott Baldauf
Shelling in Somali capital takes fresh toll
'Tuesday, battles between government forces and Islamist militias in Mogadishu killed seven civilians. Experts say some of the militias might be open to dialogue with President Sharif.'

Washington Post, 27 Jul 09, by Karin Brulliard
In Niger Delta, Uneasy Peace as Rebel Disarmament Date Nears
'Signs of harmony seem to be budding in Nigeria's conflict-plagued Niger Delta region amid a government offer of amnesty to rebels and a leading militant group's halt to its attacks and kidnappings. But here in the swampy heart of the oil-rich but impoverished delta, many analysts and observers warn that the calm could be a prelude to all-out war.'

Washington Post, 23 Jul 09, by Stephanie McCrummen
Ruling Signals Compromise On Border Dispute in Sudan
'A Hague-based court issued a crucial ruling Wednesday on a border dispute between the Sudanese government and the semiautonomous region of southern Sudan, striking a tenuous compromise on one of the most explosive issues facing the East African nation.'

New York Times, 21 Jul 09, by Jeffrey Gettleman
Radical Islamists Slipping Easily Into Kenya
'A militant group that has taken over much of southern Somalia is considered a threat to Westerners living in Kenya.'

New York Times, 21 Jul 09, by Ellen Barry
Biden Says U.S. Still Backs Ukraine in NATO
'Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s visit to the region gave substance to the American view of the reinvigorated relationship with Russia.'

Christian Science Monitor, 15 Jul 09, by Matthew Clark
Will Nigeria’s MEND militants honor their own ceasefire?
'Just hours after announcing a unilateral 60-day ceasefire with the government, the rebels threatened to end it.'

Christian Science Monitor, 10 Jul 09, by Drew Hinshaw
Obama in Africa: Can US rival China's new clout?
'President Obama arrives in Ghana this weekend, but China's booming Africa presence may mean that he'll have less leverage to advance US interests than his predecessors.'

Washington Post, 27 Jun 09, by Mary Beth Sheridan
U.S. Has Sent 40 Tons of Munitions to Aid Somali Government
'The U.S. government has provided about 40 tons of weapons and ammunition to shore up the besieged government of Somalia in the past six weeks and has sent funding to train Somali soldiers, a senior State Department official said yesterday, in the most complete accounting to date of the new American efforts in the strife-torn country.'

New York Times, 30 Jun 09, by Celia W. Dugger and Michael Wines
Zimbabwe Says China Is Giving It Loans
'The West has been leery of giving the government a large infusion of money until Mr. Mugabe stops the human rights abuses that have been a fixture of his 29 years in power. China, however, has maintained its close relationship with Zimbabwe as it has extended its financial ties to other nations in Africa.'

Washington Post, 25 Jun 09, by Stephanie McCrummen
U.S. Sends Weapons to Help Somali Government Repel Rebels Tied to Al-Qaeda
'The United States has sent a shipment of weapons and ammunition to the government of Somalia, according to a U.S. official who said the move signals the Obama administration's desire to thwart a takeover of the Horn of Africa nation by Islamist rebels with alleged ties to al-Qaeda.'

Christian Science Monitor, 24 Jun 09, by David Montero
Is promoting Sufi Islam the best chance for peace in Somalia?
'Some armed groups who adhere to a more moderate interpretation of Islam have begun battling Al Qaeda-linked extremists.'

Christian Science Monitor, 22 Jun 09, by Scott Baldauf
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.'

Washington Post, 25 Jun 09, by Stephanie McCrummen
Fresh Nightmares in Congo's Drive Against Rwandans
'A Congolese military operation against Rwandan rebels who have caused years of conflict in eastern Congo is unleashing fresh horrors across this region's rolling green hills.'

Washington Post, 24 Jun 09, by Mary Beth Sheridan
White House Boosts Effort to Salvage North-South Peace in Sudan
'The Obama administration stepped up its efforts yesterday to salvage a four-year-old peace accord for Sudan, convening officials from 32 countries and international organizations amid fears that Africa's longest-running civil war could resume.'

Christian Science Monitor, 21 Jun 09, by Scott Baldauf
Niger Delta militants vow more attacks
'Chevron has evacuated hundreds of employees from the oil-rich region of Nigeria after a string of attacks on oil pipelines.'

Washington Post, 18 Jun 09, by Colum Lynch
Sudan's 'Coordinated' Genocide in Darfur Is Over, U.S. Envoy Says
'President Obama's special envoy to Sudan, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. J. Scott Gration, said Wednesday that the Sudanese government is no longer engaging in a "coordinated" campaign of mass murder in Darfur, marking a shift in the U.S. characterization of the violence there as an "ongoing genocide."'

Christian Science Monitor, 17 Jun 09, by Scott Baldauf
Top Somali warlord: willing to talk?
'The fiery Sheikh Dahir Aweys may be ready to hash out a peace deal, following weeks of fighting the moderate government of Sheikh Sharif Ahmed.'

BBC News, 17 Jun 09
DR Congo army 'close to collapse'
'The army in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is at risk of disintegrating, senior UN peacekeepers have said. There have been a series of mutinies by troops who have not been paid their salary for several months.'

Christian Science Monitor, 17 Jun 09, by Matthew Clark
Congo: Army mutinies over pay hurt peace efforts
'In Africa's biggest conflict, troops have attacked a UN base, leading a UN spokesman to say that the Army risks "potential disintegration."'

Christian Science Monitor, 05 Jun 09, by Scott Baldauf
Islamists battle for Somalia
'Whether the Sharif government stands or falls, or simply fails to expand its authority beyond the few dozen city blocks of Mogadishu currently under its control, the fighting is going to have its greatest effect on the Somali civilians who had just begun to return to their country after 19 years of war.'

Christian Science Monitor, 10 Jun 09, by David Montero
Thousands of refugees flee fighting in Somalia
'The UN says more than 100,000 have now been displaced. Two Islamist militias may have joined forces for a new offensive.'

BBC News, 10 Jun 09
Madagascar action 'not advisable'
'The UN and France have warned against military intervention to resolve the political crisis in Madagascar.'

New York Times, 01 Jun 09, by Jeffrey Gettleman
No Winner Seen in Somalia's Battle With Chaos
'Somalia is once again a raging battle zone, with jihadists pouring in from overseas, preparing for a final push to topple the transitional government.'

Washington Post, 21 May 09, by Karin Brulliard
U.S. Outreach On Rough Seas Off Western Africa
'Naval Effort Seeks to Build Stability, Trust in Strategic Region'

Christian Science Monitor, 27 May 09, by Heba Aly
In Somalia, African Union takes the offensive in information war
'AMISOM is rehabilitating Radio Mogadishu and publishing articles to "empower" Somalis and push back against Islamist insurgents.'

Washington Post, 18 May 09, by Stephanie McCrummen
Rebels Threaten Somali Government
'A major offensive by Somalia's Islamist rebels is posing the most serious challenge yet to the country's latest central government, reviving long-standing concerns that the chaotic Horn of Africa nation could fall entirely to militants with alleged ties to al-Qaeda.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 May 09, by Scott Baldauf
Somali government encircled by hardline Islamists
'After five days of assault by better-armed Al Shabab militiamen, pro-government fighters have apparently begun to retreat.'

New York Times, 08 May 09, by Jeffrey Gettleman
For Somali Pirates, Worst Enemy May Be on Shore
'For the first time in this pirate-infested region of northern Somalia, some of the very communities that had been flourishing with pirate dollars — supplying these well-known criminals with sanctuary, support, brides, respect and even government help — are now trying to push them out.'

Christian Science Monitor, 04 May 09, by Duncan Woodside
Soldier pay threatens to undo Congo's progress against rebels
'Many soldiers haven't seen wages for months. Meanwhile, a Hutu militia is increasing attacks on civilians in response to the military offensive.'

BBC News, 07 May 09
Amnesty law for DR Congo militias
'MPs in the Democratic Republic of Congo have passed a law granting amnesty to militias in the east of the country.'

Christian Science Monitor, 03 May 09, by Shashank Bengali, McClatchy Newspapers
An interview with a jailed Somali pirate leader
B'ehind the bare brick walls of a desolate former British colonial prison in Somali land, five jailed Somali pirates didn't seem very fearsome at all.'

Washington Post, 25 Apr 09, by Stephanie McCrummen
Precarious South Essential to Sudan
'The nascent government of southern Sudan, a key U.S. ally in the volatile nation, is threatened by severe problems including severe cash shortages and growing ethnic tensions spawned by a national ruling party determined to see the south fail, southern officials say.'

Washington Post/AP, 23 Apr 09
Where South Africa's Zuma stands on policy issues
'A look at how Jacob Zuma, the man poised to become South Africa's next president, might tackle key issues.'

BBC News, 15 Apr 09
Fighting off the Somali pirates
'The recent escalation in pirate attacks has again highlighted the vulnerability of shipping off the coast of Somalia.'

The Scotsman, 15 Apr 09, by Elizabeth Kennedy and Alison Bevege
Back to work ... defiant Somali pirates seize four more ships
'Only days after five of their number were killed in French and American hostage rescues, Somali pirates brazenly hijacked four more ships in the Gulf of Aden yesterday.'

Voice of America, 10 Apr 09, by Joe DeCapua
Somali Piracy - Causes and Consequences
'The ongoing Somali piracy problem in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean raises a number of legal and military issues about how to deal with the problem.'

Providence Journal, 11 Apr 09, by John E. Mulligan
1st piracy of U.S. ship in 200 years reveals growing, costly threat
'The first piracy of a U.S. merchant ship since the Barbary Wars has focused this country's attention on the high-seas crime wave that followed the collapse of Somalia in the 1990s and is now inflicting ever-greater ransom costs on traders from the British Isles to the Far East.'

Reuters, 15 Apr 09, by Jonathan Saul
Q+A: What can ships do if attacked by pirates?
'Maritime organizations have issued recommendations to captains and their crews when coming under attack by pirates.'

FOX News, 15 Apr 09, by Paul Wagenseil
Ten High-Tech Weapons to Repel Pirates
'So if the cargo ships can't fire back, how can they defend themselves against pirates? A number of non-lethal solutions have been suggested and tried, some low-tech, some practically science fiction.'

Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr 09, by Shashank Bengala, McClatchy Newspapers
How the US crew fought off Somali pirates
'For the first time, crewmembers of the Maersk Alabama share details of their Indian Ocean encounter.'

New York Times, 09 Apr 09, by Mark Mazzetti and Mark McDonald
Navy Destroyer Tracking Somali Pirates and their U.S. Hostage
'A U.S. Navy destroyer kept close watch Thursday on a lifeboat holding four Somali pirates and their hostage — an American ship captain — one day after the pirates briefly seized a United States-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Africa.'

AP, 09 Apr 09
Timeline of International Action Against Piracy
'There have been sporadic international efforts to tackle piracy off the coast of Somalia for a number of years. But those efforts became more determined last year following an unprecedented rise in attacks.'

Christian Science Monitor, 08 Apr 09, by Howard LaFranchi
Who will stop the pirates?
'American merchant sailors showed their mettle in retaking a hijacked ship, but piracy off Somalia continues to vex the international community.'

Christian Science Monitor, 07 Apr 09, by Kristen Chick
Piracy 'surge' off Somali coast
'Pirates seized five ships in a 48-hour period ending Monday.'

The Guardian, 08 Apr 09, by Xan Rice
Analysis: The weather, not the warships, kept Somali pirates at bay
'Hijacking of US-flagged Alabama shows gangs have weathered the storm and changed tactics to outwit international community.'

Christian Science Monitor, 24 Mar 09, by Elwin Verheggen
Sudan bombs Darfur rebels – and civilians – amid calls for a 'no-fly' zone.
'To oust JEM [the Justice and Equality Movement], who are supported by neighboring Chad, from Muhajirya, the Sudanese government launched an offensive, sending in ground troops and bombing the area for about three weeks.'

International Herald Tribune, 26 Mar 09, by Lydia Polgreen
As Chinese investments in Africa drop, so does hope
'As global commodity prices have plummeted and several of China's African partners have stumbled deeper into chaos, China has backed away from some of its riskiest and most aggressive plans, looking for the same guarantees that Western companies have long sought for their investments: economic and political stability.'

International Herald Tribune/Reuters, 19 Mar 09
New president takes control in Madagascar
'Andry Rajoelina, the new president of Madagascar, celebrated and consolidated power on Wednesday after being appointed by the military in a move that flouted the Indian Ocean island's Constitution.'

International Herald Tribune, 17 Mar 09, by Michael Slackman
For non-Libyans, Qaddafi hardly the African savior he likes to portray
'As chairman of the African Union, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, has blamed Israel and other foreign forces for the conflict in Darfur, defended Somali pirates for fighting "greedy Western nations" and declared that multiparty democracy is not right for the people of Africa.'

International Herald Tribune, 10 Mar 09, by Barry Bearak
Army mutiny heightens Madagascar crisis
'A mutiny within the military has intensified the political crisis in Madagascar, an impoverished island nation off the southeastern coast of Africa that has suffered turmoil most of this year.'

International Herald Tribune, 10 Mar 09, by Lydia Polgreen
2 slayings in West Africa may signal a new day
'Guinea-Bissau appears more stable after the deaths of its president and army chief of staff, whose rivalry had destabilized the country.'

Washington Post, 12 Mar 09, by Stephanie McCrummen
Somali President Courts Insurgents
'Many Somalis say they hope that Ahmed, who comes from Mogadishu's dominant Hawiye clan and enjoys the respect of influential Somali clerics, will be able to quell the Islamist insurgency -- something his combative secular predecessor Abdullahi Yusuf, who was from a rival clan, failed to do. Others say they fear that Somalia is on the verge of sinking into a religious war among Islamic factions.'

International Herald Tribune, 05 Mar 09, by Marlise Simons and Neil MacFarquhar
Sudan leader defies arrest order on war crimes charges
'One day after judges at the International Criminal Court ordered his arrest for atrocities committed in Darfur, President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan offered a fiery and defiant response on Thursday, telling a crowd of thousands in his own country that "we are not succumbing, we are not bending" to outside pressure.'

Christian Science Monitor, 05 Mar 09, by Scott Baldauf
War crimes warrant for Bashir risks sparking unrest in Sudan
'Critics worry the warrant could worsen Sudan's deadly conflicts and raises issues of double standards. Still, it's a potent symbol for the victims of the crisis in Darfur.'

BBC News, 05 Mar 09
Uganda to continue Congo LRA hunt
'Uganda says the Democratic Republic of Congo has agreed to let its troops continue to pursue Lord's Resistance Army rebels in northern DR Congo.'

Washington Post, 28 Feb 09, by Stephanie McCrummen
Congo, Rwanda Call Joint Offensive a Success
'Observers are more guarded, warning that situation may have been improved only a little.'

Christian Science Monitor, 19 Feb 09, by David Montero
Concerns grow over global reach of Somali militants
'As Somalia's new president and prime minister vow to uphold peace, evidence is emerging of the international reach of Somalia's Al Qaeda-linked extremist groups.'

Christian Science Monitor, 18 Feb 09, by Scott Baldauf
Why did Sudan make a deal with Darfur rebels?
'Khartoum has agreed to swap prisoners and talk with Darfur insurgents.'

Washington Post, 13 Feb 09, by Stephanie McCrummen
Rwanda's Move Into Congo Fuels Suspicion
'Some in mineral-rich region see broader motives than disarming Hutu militiamen.'

International Herald Tribune, 11 Feb 09, by Neil MacFarquhar
New demands overwhelm UN peacekeeping missions
'The new demands come at a time when member states with advanced armies in particular have become more resistant to committing additional troops or even necessary equipment like helicopters. Those challenges have only added to a deeper and longstanding problem: The continued lack of clarity about how the United Nations should intervene when its members lack either the military force or the political will - or both - to halt carnage.'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Feb 09, by Scott Baldauf
With Tsvangirai as PM, Zimbabwe's power-sharing begins
'Now that Tsvangirai has joined the government, he risks the same fate of other opposition leaders who have been swallowed up and neutralized by Mugabe's powerful ZANU-PF party. But Adam Habib, a political analyst and vice chancellor at the University of Johannesburg, says that Tsvangirai should move quickly to sort out some of Zimbabwe's problems, and thereby create more political room for maneuver.'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Feb 09, by Max Delany
Brutal retreat of LRA rebels in Congo
'The joint mission to finish off the notorious Lord's Resistance Army has led to more than 900 deaths and displaced more than 1,330 civilians since it began nearly two months ago.'

Christian Science Monitor, 03 Feb 09, by Scott Baldauf
Moderate Islamists take on hard-liners in battle for Somalia
'Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, a moderate, was elected president last week by Somalia's transitional parliament. But hard-line militant Islamists are fighting to take over the country.'

Washington Post, 04 Feb 09, by Stephanie McCrummen
In Congo, an Exodus of Militiamen
'U.N. unit overwhelmed as Rwandan Hutus lay down arms, seek repatriation.'

International Herald Tribune, 03 Feb 09, by Lydia Polgreen
Qaddafi's dream of unity may be just out of reach
'Qaddafi is an ardent supporter of a long-held dream of transforming Africa, a collection of post-colonial fragments divided by borders that were drawn arbitrarily by Western powers, into a vast, unified state that could play a powerful role in global affairs. He has repeatedly proposed immediate unity and the establishment of a single currency, army and passport for the entire continent.'

Christian Science Monitor, 02 Feb 09, by Scott Baldauf
How team of rivals could still save Zimbabwe
'... Mr. Mugabe's long rule has left the country bankrupt, hungry, disease-ridden, and in desperate need of foreign aid. Tsvangirai may not have troops, but he has things Mugabe desperately needs: access to foreign donors and expertise that can make Zimbabwe function again.'

International Herald Tribune, 29 Jan 09, by Somini Sengupta and Mark McDonald
Sri Lanka rejects report implicating government soldiers
'Sri Lanka on Thursday rejected a report from the International Committee of the Red Cross that implicated government troops in preventing the aid agency from assisting and evacuating wounded civilians.'

International Herald Tribune, 28 Jan 09, by Norimitsu Onishi and Mark McDonald
Japan to escort ships off the coast of Somalia
'The deployment, which would be considered a police action, is not expected to be as politically sensitive as military missions undertaken by Japan in recent years. The country's pacifist Constitution restricts the activities of its military, known as the Self-Defense Forces.'

Christian Science Monitor, 27 Jan 09, by Jina Moore
Rwanda-Congo move isolates UN mission
'Last week's deployment of Rwandan troops to fight rebels in Congo caught the 17,000-strong UN mission by surprise.'

International Herald Tribune, 27 Jan 09, by Mohammed Ibrahim and Alan Cowell
Islamists overrun Somalia city as Ethiopians leave
'Islamist insurgents took over the city that houses Somalia's Parliament on Monday, just hours after Ethiopian troops withdrew and formally ended a failed two-year effort to defeat Islamist militants in the country.'

International Herald Tribune, 26 Jan 09, by Jeffrey Gettleman
Arrested leader of Congo rebels may not be finished
'Nkunda was one of Congo's most powerful and unpredictable rebel leaders, a megalomaniac with proven military skill who, until his arrest along the Congo-Rwanda border, had single-handedly destabilized a large chunk of central Africa.'

Washington Post, 28 Jan 09, by Karin Brulliard
Zimbabwe Deal's Fate Unknown Amid Conflicting Accounts
'Zimbabwe's fragile power-sharing pact remained in limbo Tuesday, after southern African leaders said the nation's rival parties had come to an agreement but the main opposition party denied that.'

Washington Post, 26 Jan 09, by Karin Brulliard and Colum Lynch
A Growing Chorus In S. Africa Urges Action on Mugabe
'... as the 15-nation Southern African Development Community meets Monday in Pretoria to discuss the crisis in Zimbabwe, there is little sign that South Africa, the group's chair and regional powerhouse, will call for an end to Mugabe's 28-year rule or even criticize it.'

Washington Post, 24 Jan 09, by Stephanie McCrummen
Rwanda's Arrest of Congolese Rebel Leader Marks a Key Shift
'The arrest of renegade Congolese Gen. Laurent Nkunda by his former Rwandan allies portends a dramatic shift in a complex conflict that has raged and simmered across the region since 1994, when the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide spilled across the border into eastern Congo.'

Washington Post, 22 Jan 09, by Stephanie McCrummen
With Ethiopian Pullout, Islamists Rise Again in Somalia
'Moderates seeking power face challenges from radical militia, others.'

Christian Science Monitor, 22 Jan 09, by Scott Baldauf
Will Rwandan troops help in Congo?
'More than 2,000 Rwandan troops entered Congo Tuesday to help hunt down Hutu rebels who are blamed for the 1994 genocide of about 800,000 Rwandan Tutsis.'

International Herald Tribune, 14 Jan 09, by Mohamed Ibrahim and Jeffrey Gettleman
Ethiopians withdraw from key bases in Somalia
'Ethiopian troops pulled out from crucial bases in Mogadishu on Tuesday, leaving a power vacuum that was quickly filled by Islamist fighters who seized their positions.'

International Herald Tribune, 12 Jan 09, by Lydia Polgreen
Leadership fracture threatens Congo rebels' power
'Disagreements over tactics and power have split the once invincible-seeming Congolese rebel group that has played havoc across the eastern side of Congo over the past year and has brought its weakened government to the edge of collapse.'

Christian Science Monitor, 08 Jan 09, by Tristan McConnell
Ghana's new president: Africa's symbol of a working democracy
'Ghana's orderly transition of power is a bright spot after a dismal year for democracy in Africa.'

International Herald Tribune, 06 Jan 09, by Sheryl Gay Stolberg
U.S. to airlift supplies to Darfur
'With just 15 days left in office, President George W. Bush announced that he had ordered an immediate airlift to deliver vehicles and equipment to the war-torn Darfur region of Sudan to bolster a struggling international peacekeeping effort there.'

Washington Post, 03 Jan 09, by Stephanie McCrummen
Ethiopia Begins Somalia Pullout
'Resulting power vaccuum likely to unleash scramble for power.'

2008 Africa archive
2007 Africa archive