Economic Community of West African States
3 coup-hit West African nations exit ECOWAS citing sanctions, no support against terrorism
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have all experienced military coups in the past few years. They say the regional trade organization is not helping them fight terrorism but rather imposing severe sanctions on them. Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman reports from Ghana on the implications of their withdrawals.
Europe’s down economy has some Africans considering migrating home
Africans have flocked to Europe for years, in search of a better life and to make money they could send back home. Now, as Europe’s economy struggles, many Africans are ready to pack up and head back home, where the economy is better.
Report: U.S. has established extensive covert surveillance operation in sub-Saharan Africa
A new report from the Washington Post revealed this week that the U.S. military has opened a new front, a surveillance front, in Africa against al-Qaeda. Small planes are being used extensive to gather intelligence on Qaeda operations all around Africa’s embattled states.
African reporter confronted with violent threats after story on female circumcision
In some African countries, female circumcision is a widely practiced tradition. But as more attention is shone on the practice, also known as female genital mutilation, it’s come with other consequences. An African reporter has gone into hiding after her report on the practice in Liberia was published.
Children treated like slaves to produce supposedly ‘fair-trade’ cotton for Victoria’s Secret
Many of the products sold at Victoria’s Secret are said to contain ‘fair-trade’ cotton. But a new report from Bloomberg News found that that cotton is often planted and picked by children 13 and younger, who are forced to work like slaves.
