Africa: Why Obama Chose Ghana

The question of why Barack Obama has chosen Ghana rather than Kenya, his father's homeland, or Nigeria, Africa's giant, for his first trip to Africa as President of the United… Read more »

Sudan: Darfur Rebel Leader Submits to War Crimes Trial

A Darfur rebel leader charged with war crimes for attacking African Union peacekeepers in the region has voluntarily surrendered himself to appear before the International Criminal… Read more »

Africa: Obama to Visit Accra in July, Egypt in June

U.S. President Barrack Obama will visit Ghana July 10 and 11 at the conclusion of a trip that will also take him to Russia and Italy, the White House announced Saturday. Read more »

Malawi: Old Rivals Forge New Alliances in Bitter Election

Malawi's bitter political struggle will be taken up by the voters on May 19 when the country heads for the polls to choose a new president and parliament. Read more »

Madagascar: Rajoelina Will Step Down Only If Others Do

Madagascar's new leader, Andry Rajoelina, will decline to stand in the country's next presidential election only if all previous heads of state do likewise. Read more »

South Africa: Diamond Sold For Record U.S. $9.4 Million

A seven-carat blue diamond discovered at the Cullinan diamond mine near Pretoria has been sold in Geneva for a record price of nearly U.S. $9.5 million. Read more »

South Africa: President Zuma Inaugurated in Lavish Ceremony

African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma may be a commoner, but his inauguration as the fourth democratically-elected President of South Africa on Saturday was a lavish ceremony… Read more »

Africa: Global Crisis Cuts Trade, Undermines Gains

The global financial crisis will overshadow this year's annual meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB), which begin Sunday in Dakar, Senegal. Read more »

Africa: Continent Needs Infrastructure, Integration, Says AU Leader

Africa has taken "a major hit" from the global economic recession but it can weather the storm, says Erastus Mwencha, deputy chairperson of the African Union Commission. Mwencha… Read more »

Sudan: Civil Society Cancels Darfur Peace Conference

An ambitious attempt to convene a civil society conference on Darfur with the aim of building what its organizers call "a mandate for peace" has been derailed by the Sudanese… Read more »

Nigeria: Anger, Frustration And Hope in War Against Corruption

Sometimes an event, scarcely noticed, never captured for YouTube, can ripple through a nation's consciousness. So it was on Saturday, 29 December, 2008, at Murtala Muhammed Airport… Read more »

Sudan: Facing Arrest, Bashir Stays Away From South Africa

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir will not attend South African President-elect Jacob Zuma's inauguration Saturday, a top South African official said at a media briefing Thursday. Read more »

Africa: Three Presidents Probed Over French Properties

A French judge has cleared the way for probes into how three African heads of state came to possess multiple bank accounts, properties and cars in France, newspapers in Francophone… Read more »

Africa: Carson Assumes Top U.S. Africa Policy Post, Departs for Zuma Inauguration

Ambassador Johnnie Carson was sworn in Wednesday as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, the administration's senior Africa policymaking position. Read more »

South Africa: Parliament Elects Zuma in Raucous Session

There were rowdy scenes at the first sitting of South Africa's Parliament since the recent elections as members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) heckled old… Read more »

Somalia: Pirates Hijack Two More Ships

Pirates continue to seize cargo ships in the Gulf of Aden, the latest targets being Dutch and German vessels. Read more »

Liberia: Sunken Merchant Vessel Raised from Monrovia Freeport

The merchant ship Torm Alexandra is again afloat in Monrovia Freeport after a lengthy and complicated salvage operation in the Liberian capital. Read more »

Zimbabwe: Activists Sent Back to Jail

A Zimbabwean court rocked Zimbabwe's unity government on Tuesday by sending back to prison a group of civic and political activists charged with attempting to overthrow President… Read more »

Nigeria: Could Ekiti Voting Debacle Be Turning Point?

On April 22, South Africans went to the polls for the fourth national elections since apartheid ended. These were orderly and peaceful. Three days later in Nigeria, a country just… Read more »

Somalia: Warship Seizes Suspected Pirates

As the European Union (EU) continues to boost its anti-piracy naval task force, a French warship has arrested more suspected pirates in the Indian Ocean between Kenya and the… Read more »

Sudan: Keeping Our Eyes on the Prize

The hardliners in power in Khartoum have done it again. Like magicians who divert your attention with a bit of flash while they perform their deceit elsewhere, President Omar… Read more »

Africa: Press Freedom Declines in Eight Countries

Ghana, Mali, and Mauritius had the highest press freedom ranking in Africa in Freedom House's annual Freedom of the Press Report released in Washington, DC. Read more »

Sudan: Civil Society Urges Obama to Adopt New Peace Strategy

Three prominent American civil society advocacy groups have marked President Barack Obama's first 100 days in office by issuing an open letter calling on him to build a coalition… Read more »

Zimbabwe: Finance Minister Pleads for Aid

Despite reports of growing divides in Zimbabwe's unity government, Finance Minister Tendai Biti called for increased aid and investment in an optimistic speech in Washington, DC… Read more »

Madagascar: South Africa Warns Ousted Leader

The South African government has cautioned deposed Malagasy leader Marc Ravalomanana against returning to his country, saying such a move would be “unwise, provocative and… Read more »