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In Lome, a seaside city in a country, Togo, with one of the highest rates of domestic slave trafficking in the world, hundreds of girls a year seek protection from abusive employers. (The tee-shirt on the right is not an example of a high-priced purchase by the young girl, but rather a reflection of the market in used clothes, whereby charitable organizations in the developing countries sell clothing that can't be sold in developing countries to exporters who send it to developing countries.  This export  of cast-off clothing has had a devastating effect  on textile industries in many developing countries.  The tee-shirt on the right almost certainly came from Great Britain.) Photo: Washington Post

As the global trade in domestic workers surges, millions of young girls face exploitation and abuse: in Togo, a 10-Year-old's muted cry: 'I couldn't take any more' Kevin Sullivan Washington Post  December 25, 2008

The infection culminates in worms, such as the one shown here, emerging from the sufferer's skin. Photo: Associated Press

Guinea worm 'almost eradicated'  BBC News  December 6, 2008

South Africa president resigns after governing African National Congress asks him to  BBC News  September 21,  2008 (You will leave this site.)  Why Mbeki went Martin Plau BBC News  September 21,  2008

World Bank withdraws oil pipeline financing for Chad after  government fails to use oil profits to tackle poverty BBC News  September 10,  2008 (You will leave this site.) 

Malawi AIDS patient.  The relatively low survival rate of 66% of those on drugs appears to be principally due to two factors: patients starting the treatment late or not having access to proper nutrition. Photo: IRIN News

Anti-retroviral drugs reduce AIDS deaths in Malawi: one-third of those infected taking drugs, with 66% survival rate thus far BBC News August 26,  2008 (You will leave this site.)  

The education minister has been touring schools to count the teachers. Photo: BBC

Sierra Leone's education minister says he has discovered dozens of non-existent "ghost teachers" invented by officials to embezzle money BBC News August 20,  2008 (You will leave this site.)  

Kenya: struggling for peace Karen Allen BBC News August 20,  2008 (You will leave this site.)  

People line up along a rural road as they wait to be examined at a Doctors Without Borders outreach clinic in Tunto, southern Ethiopia. The country has been grappling with drought as well as a global food crisis that has raised prices. Photo: Siegfried Modola/AFP/Getty Images

Ethiopia's population has nearly doubled since 1985--now, 14 million need help as another food crisis sets in   Rick Hampson USA Today August 18, 2008 Ethiopia faces a new food crisis Edmund Sanders Los Angeles Times August 5, 2008

Kenyan minister resigns (temporarily) over accusations that he sold a government hotel for one-third of its value  BBC News July 8, 2008 (You will leave this site) See Hunger Notes special report: Harmful economic systems

Although there will be a crop this year, there is little food due to past drought.  In every Ethiopian village visited there were vulnerable children, many with distended stomachs, one sign of extreme hunger. Photo: BBC

Desperation as Ethiopia's hunger grows Gavin Hewitt BBC News June 8, 2008 (You will leave this site.)

In postwar Liberia, paradise amid the poverty: feelings mixed as aid workers live well  Craig Timberg  Washington Post June 1, 2008 (You will leave this site.)

U.S. Africa Command trims its aspirations. Nations loath to host force; aid groups resisted military plan to take on relief work  Karen DeYoung Washington Post June 1, 2008 (You will leave this site.)

South African violence against immigrants fed by post-apartheid poverty  Craig Timberg Washington Post May 27, 2008 (You will leave this site, be required to register once with the Post, and thereafter sign in using your email address.)

Six million Ethiopian children at risk of malnutrition as crops fail and prices rise Xan Rice The Guardian May 21, 2008 (You will leave this site.)

The global food crisis has arrived at Safia Ali’s hut. She cannot afford rice or wheat or powdered milk anymore. At the same time, a drought has decimated her family’s herd of goats, turning their sole livelihood into a pile of bleached bones and papery skin. The result is that Ms. Safia, a 25-year-old mother of five, has not eaten in a week. Her 1-year-old son is starving too, an adorable, listless boy who doesn’t even respond to a pinch. Photo: Jehad Nga/New York Times

Famine looms as wars rend Horn of Africa Jeffrey Gettleman  New York Times, May 17, 2008 (You will leave this site.)

AFRICOM will focus on military training and counter-terrorism Photo: CJTF-HOA

AFRICOM to focus on military, not humanitarian role. IRIN March 14, 2008 (You will leave this site.)  See Hunger Notes special report on development and military aid

Bush: 'US is not seeking Africa bases' BBC News  February 20, 2008 (You will leave this site.)  China not US rival in Africa BBC News  February 20, 2008 Bush highlights malaria campaign BBC News  February 19, 2008   Widespread use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and state-of-the-art drugs succeeds in cutting malaria deaths in half in Rwanda and Ethiopia David Brown Washington Post February 1, 2008 (You will leave this site, be required to register once with the Post and thereafter sign in using your email address.)

Capturing rainwater for irrigation would contribute to higher agricultural productivity in Malawi. Photo: IRIN

Malawi agriculture production rises sharply after years of food deficits--necessary next steps debated IRIN  February 5, 2008 (You will leave this site.) 

 Kenya began an operation on Monday to resettle people displaced after the crisis that followed December’s disputed election. Photo: Guillaume Bonn/NYT

Kenyan government starts returning people displaced by violence to their homes and land--many still fearful for their safety Jeffrey Gettleman  New York Times May 6, 2008 (You will leave this site.)

Kenyans angry at 'bloated' power-sharing cabinet Katie Nguyen Reuters April 4, 2008 (You will leave this site.)  World Bank again accused of tolerating corruption in Kenya Bank Information Center April 3, 2008(You will leave this site.)

Attacks in Kenya 'meticulously' organized, Human Rights Watch says Stephanie McCrummen Washington Post March 18, 2008 (You will leave this site, be required to register once with the Post and thereafter sign in using your email address.)  See the Human Rights Watch report. 

The power-sharing deal was greeted with jubilation in Kenya. Photo: AFP

Kenya political accord skirts key issue of land reform Stephanie McCrummen Washington Post March 7, 2008 (You will leave this site, be required to register once with the Post and thereafter sign in using your email address.) 

Unruly and often violent youth have set up illegal road blocks on several roads in the Rift Valley and western Kenya. Violence against local minorities including Kikuyus, Luos or Kalenjins, depending on the region of Kenya, has displaced an estimated 600,000 Kenyans to this point. Photo: IRIN

 Kenya rivals Odinga and Kabkbi agree to share power BBC News  February 29, 2008 (You will leave this site.)  Kenya peace talks reach impasse BBC News  February 25, 2008  Some 600,000 displaced in Kenya BBC News  February 11, 2008 (You will leave this site.)    The Mungiki   and other Kenyan armed groups profit from chaos Josphat Makori BBC News  February 8, 2008

President Mwai Kibaki shakes hands with opposition leader Raila Odinga in the presence of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Photo: Boniface Mwangi/IRIN

UN envoy heads to Kenyan hotspots Karen Allen BBC News  February 8, 2008 (You will leave this site.)  Kenya: tensions high as Annan-brokered peace talks begin  IRIN January 29, 2008 (You will leave this site.)  More Kenya stories

Kenya Red Cross staff carry a body of one of the victims of post-election violence in Mathare slums, Nairobi. Photo: Julius Mwelu/IRIN

Kenya: holding a nation hostage to a bankrupt political class Paul T. Zeleza The Zeleza Post January 12, 2008

Kenya: it’s the economy, not just 'tribalism'  IRIN January 9, 2008 Lucy Awino: 'I pray that things will go back to how they were before' IRIN January 11, 2008 Mary: 'It's like everyone is drunk over something you can't understand' IRIN January 11, 2008 (You will leave this site.)

The delay in Kenyan vote results has sparked disorder on the streets. Photo: AFP

Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga calls on President Mwai Kibaki to admit defeat in national elections and accuses him of electoral fraud BBC News  December 30, 2007 (You will leave this site.) Kenyans vote in tight race BBC News  December 28, 2007

Capturing rainwater for irrigation would contribute to higher agricultural productivity in Malawi. Photo: IRIN

Malawi agriculture production rises sharply after years of food deficits--necessary next steps debated IRIN  February 5, 2008 (You will leave this site.) 

Europe takes Africa's fish, and boatloads of migrants follow Sharon LaFraniere New York Times January 14, 2008 (You will leave this site, be required to register once with the NYT, and thereafter sign in using your email address.)

South African prosecutors bring corruption charges against Jacob Zuma BBC News  December 30, 2007 (You will leave this site.) Zuma becomes new leader of South Africa's governing party, the African National Congress BBC News  December 19, 2007 (You will leave this site.)  Zuma: South Africa's comeback kid BBC News  December 18, 2007 South Africa's widening divide Orla Guerin BBC News December 15, 2007

2007 Africa stories

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