By choosing the travel to CAR, Pope Francis spotlighted the need for reconciliation between Christians and Muslims.
Author helped create the index in 2007 but laments that Africa's two best governed countries are islands far out at sea. Most Africans today have still never known the rule of law, security, good education and free speech.
Days after Botswana is named the best governed nation on the African continent by the Ibrahim Index, a leading diamond concern moves its sales staff there. Joint venture is seen as win-win.
The previous Sudanese civil war and US humanitarian efforts gave world attention to the 'Lost Boys.' But scant attention is paid to 'Lost Girls.' As South Sudan plunges back into conflict, the risks that girls face are mounting.
The shadowy insurgent Nigerian group is remarkably resilient and doesn't rely on one paramount leader.
The extremist Islamic group now holds 25 towns in the three northeast Nigerian states where they operate. Group has heavy weapons says Catholic prelate from Maiduguri, Boko Haram's 'hometown.'
An October BBC documentary titled 'Rwanda's Untold Story' represents and repeats most of the flaws and misreadings in the Western narrative on post-genocide Rwanda.
For years, Nigeria was Washington DC's most important strategic partner on issues of security and stability in Africa. But, Boko Haram, and Abuja’s response, has put that partnership in jeopardy.
Boko Haram appears to be focusing on the acquisition of territory, and it's moving in the direction of providing services, especially security, for residents in the territories it controls. But will residents who fled the extremist group really return?
Experimental drugs have been used on infected patients, but none have been approved by the World Health Organization. There are signs that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa is being contained in some countries.
The US is the biggest financial donor to Ebola-infected countries in West Africa. But the largest number of healthcare workers deployed in the field hail from an island nation with a cash-strapped communist government.
A recovered hedgehog is held in gloved hands before its release near Kecskemet, Hungary, on Wednesday. Some forty previously injured and rehabilitated animals belonging to the protected species were released into the wild as a result of the joint efforts of the Kecskemet Zoo and Kiskunsag National Park.
At least 5,000 people have been infected with the deadly disease in West Africa since March. Sierra Leone is the first country to impose a nationwide curfew.
While Boko Haram talks about a 'caliphate' in northeast Nigeria, what it wants is to take the capital of Borno state, Maiduguri. Nigeria formed an entire Army Division to deploy in Borno. But it is not enough.
While a giant new stone may attract news glitter and interest, gems and gold are no longer the needed engines of South Africa's economy.
Maiduguri, a key state capital in northeast Nigeria of two million people is now vulnerable -- just as Mosul in Iraq was to a swift takeover by fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
For the first time more elephants are dying than being born each year due to poaching, with elephant herd leaders being a special target. China may be the No. 1 ivory market, but America is No. 2.
Arguments that a large African labor pool brings growth through expanded light manufacturing, is belied by the fact that African labor markets aren't now absorbing a vast and growing supply of workers.
The southern African strong man was greeted by President Xi Jinping in a full state visit to China. But did Mugabe put up all his minerals and ore for a badly needed loan?
Despite official denials, European nations list hostage ransoms as 'development assistance.' In 2003 a hostage cost $200,000; today the figure reaches $10 million: New York Times investigation.
Assassins tried to take out Muhammadu Buhari, probably the most popular politician with the 'street.' He was a presidential candidate in 2003, 2007, and 2011, and may be so again in 2015.
A viable peace process for CAR requires involvement of the international community, patience to rebuild the state, and courage to support and at times co-manage the political process.