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The latest in-depth analysis of African and United Nations issues by the Africa Renewal team.
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12 April 2013
Japan: Africa’s subtle but effective partner
JICA President, Akihiko Tanaka. Photo: Africa Renewal/Bo Li
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5 April 2013
Rwanda genocide survivors struggle to rebuild their lives
Waking up one day to hear that her entire family had been slaughtered sounded like a horror movie to Jacqueline Murekatete. And yet it happened to her and scores of men, women and children in the east African nation of Rwanda some 19 years ago. From 6 April 1994, close to a million Tutsi ethnic minorities and some moderate Hutus were hacked to death in a killing spree that lasted for about 100 days. Hutu extremists were behind the brutal murders.
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20 March 2013
To be forever free!
Every day sees visitors breaking down in tears while touring 97,000-square-foot Elmina Castle, west of Cape Coast, Ghana. Built in 1482 by the Portuguese as a gold trading post on the Gulf of Guinea, it was turned into a fortress for the transatlantic slave trade by the Dutch in 1637.
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22 February 2013
In Zimbabwe, learning Chinese is a lucrative investment
Ni hao, Chinese for “hello,” or ting bu dong, meaning “I hear you, but I don’t understand,” are two expressions one often overhears today in Zimbabwe’s capital. It is one of the results of tenacious efforts by governments, private companies and individuals across Africa, but in Zimbabwe particularly, to learn the Chinese language and understand China’s culture.
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11 February 2013
Mothers’ health is improving across Africa
In recent years, the shrill cries of a newborn baby have been bringing more shouts of joy than of anguish in maternity wards across Africa. That is because maternal deaths are decreasing on the continent, says Gifty Addico, a South Africa-based adviser for the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). New figures in a UN report, Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2010, show that maternal mortality has declined by 41 per cent in the past 10 years in sub-Saharan Africa.
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1 February 2013
‘Take away the guns,’ women tell UN envoy
Zainab Bangura, UN special representative on sexual violence in conflict, speaking after her mission to the Central African Republic.Photo: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
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28 January 2013
Somali diaspora’s remittances cast a lifeline
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15 January 2013
What does the ‘Doha Climate Gateway’ mean for Africa?
Parched earth in Tahoua Province, Niger. Africa is highly vulnerable to climate change.Photograph: UN/WFP/Phil Behan
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28 December 2012
Floods: Stemming the tide in West Africa
Flooding can be particularly devastating for poor communities.Photo: UN/Logan Abassi
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21 December 2012
New HIV infections are falling dramatically in Africa
A Liberian soldier shows off his juggling skills at a World AIDS Day event, “Zero New Infections”, sponsored by the Joint UN Programme on AIDS and HIV (UNAIDS), in Monrovia, Liberia.
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3 October 2012
Photo highlights of the General Assembly
Behind the scenes with Africa Renewal at the 67th UN General Assembly
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2 October 2012
Burundi’s push for universal education
Offering free education, making it compulsory and supporting it politically has been the winning strategy behind Burundi’s successful bid to ensure that virtually all children get a primary school education. In a recent report by the UN Secretary-General, Burundi topped the list of countries having made the greatest strides in education, although it remains among the poorest countries in the world.
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2 October 2012
‘Inspire change, make every day a Mandela Day’
Children of ProjectArt, a Harlem, New York summer arts camp, create Nelson Mandela inspired art and messages for peace.Photograph: Africa Renewal / John Gillespie
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2 October 2012
Human rights is essential in fight against HIV/AIDS
Ms. Pillay wrote this article in advance of the International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC, 22-27 July.
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2 October 2012
Making waves: Malawi revives debate on gay rights
Displaying the rainbow flag of gay rights activists: Despite vocal opposition in a number of African countries, acceptance is slowly gaining ground.Photograph: See-ming Lee
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2 October 2012
Desertification a threat to Africa’s development
Arable land is vital for Africa, both as a key asset for farmers and, together with vegetation, to help store carbon that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere and contribute to climate change. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that by 2030 Africa will lose two-thirds of its arable land if the march of desertification — the spread of arid, desert-like areas of land — is not stopped.
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2 October 2012
‘Invest in the people,’ says Seychelles president
The Seychelles, with its many Indian Ocean islands and beaches, is renowned as a high-end destination for tourists. Besides profiting from its beautiful landscape, it is also known as business-friendly, politically stable and a strong voice in international discussions on climate change.
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2 October 2012
Africa’s economy grows, but many stomachs are empty
Each year, governments, journalists, development experts and others look forward to the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Report. The report includes a ranking of countries based on life expectancy, literacy, quality of life and so on. Once it is released, governments and citizens of countries with high rankings immediately trumpet their achievements. Those with lower rankings, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which was last in 2011, come in for criticism.
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2 October 2012
For girls, ‘it is possible to dream big’
Growing up in her native Kenya, Juliana Rotich was the lonely, young “geek” with oversized glasses at school. Today she is a highly successful tech entrepreneur who is a co-founder and executive director of Ushahidi, a homegrown non-profit tech company that has taken the world by storm.
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2 October 2012
Helping the ‘collateral victims’ of AIDS
Here in Rakai, where Uganda’s first AIDS case was reported in the early 1980s, it is common to see children engaged in intensive labour activities. The children seem to have no other option to sustain themselves and their elderly family members.
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