News & Information on Africa
The African continent is home to 54 countries and more than 800 million
people. Sub-Saharan Africa comprises 48 countries, and North Africa comprises
6 countries. All but the disputed territory of Western Sahara (which is
occupied by Morocco) are members of the United Nations.
On this page, you will find links to basic information and current news
for every country in Africa. For a map of the African continent, see the
Maps page.
Headlines from Africa
BBC News | Africa | World Edition New deadline for Zimbabwe's vote Zimbabwe's government extends by 90 days the deadline for a presidential run-off to be held. Taylor's vice-president testifies The war crimes trial of ex-Liberian President Charles Taylor hears evidence from his former deputy. Somali surprise at Ethiopia aid Ethiopian troops in Somalia's capital distribute food bought with their own salaries to city residents. High alert at UK Rwanda embassy Security is stepped at the Rwandan Embassy in London, following an attempt to set the building on fire. Sudan wants rebels on terror list Sudan asks for the Darfur rebel that led the weekend attack on the capital to be listed as a terrorist group. Oil ship hijacked in Niger Delta Gunmen in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta hijack a ship belonging to a US company and kidnap its 11 crew. 'Act to end Africa food crisis' Solutions need to be worked on now to stop Africa's food crisis becoming a disaster, the UN food task force says. Arrests follow Malawi 'coup plot' Malawian police arrest four opposition officials and ex-security chiefs, after claims of a plot against the president. Sierra Leone ode to Man Utd win A former Sierra Leone footballer composes a song to celebrate Manchester United becoming English champions. Nigeria late for Malaysia tourney The Nigeria Olympic team's opening game against Iraq in the Intercontinental Cup invitational tournament in Malaysia is postponed. Bolton not ready to let Diouf go Bolton boss Gary Megson says that El-Hadji Diouf could still be at the club next season, despite the player saying he will be leaving. Stars turn out for Kanoute match A host of star players take part in a charity match in Spain on Tuesday night, organised by Mali and Sevilla striker Frederic Kanoute. Somali sides urged to find peace Both sides in the Somali conflict are urged to end the crisis as a peace conference opens in Djibouti. Hackers shut Zimbabwe website Computer hackers attack the website of Zimbabwe's state-owned Herald newspaper. US court allows apartheid claims The US Supreme Court clears the way for a lawsuit brought by apartheid victims against a number of firms. Obasanjo denies power corruption Former President Olusegun Obasanjo tells a panel he is not responsible for Nigeria's poor power supply. South African mob kills migrants Police reinforcements arrive in the South African township of Alexandra after two foreigners are killed. Zimbabwe poll may be delayed The second round of Zimbabwe's presidential election may be delayed, says the Electoral Commission. Burundi clashes as UN arrives A UN delegation is in Burundi to help secure peace as fighting continues between the army and the FNL rebels. Islamists in Mauritanian cabinet The Islamist opposition joins Mauritania's cabinet despite the country's ties with Israel. Zambia seizes 'Chiluba millions' Assets worth nearly $60m stolen under former President Chiluba have been recovered, Zambia's government says. Burundi arrests condemned A Burundian rights group accuses the security forces of illegally detaining about 200 people suspected of helping rebels. Kenya's cabinet learns the ropes Kenya's power-sharing cabinet meets for the first time for former rivals to learn how to work as a team. Senegal hunts ear-choppers Senegal's army launches an offensive against armed men who cut off the ears of cashew nut pickers. Somali militants raid police base Islamist insurgents attack a police station in the heart of Somalia's capital ahead of planned peace talks. Up the Congo without a helmet The BBC's Mark Doyle fulfils a lifelong dream of travelling along the Congo and discovers much more than the cliches. Somalia - Africa's Afghanistan? After a US missile killed a senior leader of an Islamist militant group in Somalia, the BBC's Rob Watson considers how serious the West considers the militant threat from the region. Poor 'gain' from high food prices The rising cost of oil and other commodities is making life harder for consumers in the West, but many emerging nations get richer. Power to SA mines 'not at risk' South Africa promises that its lucrative mining sector will not suffer further power disruption during the winter months. Oil falls as Nigeria strike ends Oil prices fall on news that a strike in Nigeria by Exxon workers which had disrupted production has ended. Is extended family a burden? In Africa extended family is often as important as the immediate family. But are they draining you? Does your faith burden you? A Ghanaian man is in court for refusing treatment for a sick child on religious grounds. Should Africa go solar? Africa needs alternative sources of energy.Should solar panels be state subsidised? Send us your pictures of Africa BBC News website wants your digital photographs of life in Africa. 
Data Sites (sites with country-specific
data files)
UN CyberSchoolBus
http://www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/infonation/e_glance.htm
The UN CyberSchoolBus includes country-specific information about
population, economy and mission addresses.
CIA Factbook
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook
Geography, government, economy, and other reference data.
Mbendi
http://www.mbendi.co.za/cyaf.htm
Brief background summaries from a business-oriented site.
U.S. Department of Energy
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/international/contents.html
Energy production and trade data by country.
Electronic Embassy
http://www.embassy.org/embassies/index.html
A listing of all the foreign embassies in Washington.
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com
The world's largest on-line bookshop.
Meta Sites (sites with large collections
of country-specific links)
African Governments on the Web
http://www.gksoft.com/govt/en/africa.html
African Governments on the Web provides direct links by country
to more than 290 web sites produced by African political parties and official
government institutions, including overseas embassies.
University of Texas
http://menic.utexas.edu/menic/menic.html
This Middle East Network contains country specific information for North
Africa.
Stanford University Africa South of the Sahara
http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/guide.html
This guide to selected internet resources contains sections on African
regions and many individual African countries. Each entry is annotated,
and a wide range of information is included.
University of Pennsylvania African Studies
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/AS.html
Penn's site is one of the most comprehensive academic sites for Africa
information, fully searchable, with a wide range of accumulated material
and many links to other sites.
The Norwegian Council Index on Africa
http://www.afrika.no/index/
A comprehensive guide, with an extensive list of country specific sites
for all 54 African countries, as well as various topical and news-related
links.
Woyaa!
http://www.woyaa.com
A comprehensive site with both country-specific and subject links, in
English and French.
Columbia University
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/africa/cuvl/
This is a resource guide that links to regional sources for news, politics,
economics and culture.
News Sites with Country-Specific Information
AllAfrica.com: Africa News Online
http://allafrica.com/
This is a gateway site with the greatest volume of up-to-date news coverage
from the entire continent.
BBC Africa Page
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/default.stm
Current country-specific news from the leading international radio news
outlet.
CNN Africa Page
http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/africa/archive/
Current Africa news from the leading international television news outlet.
Daily Reports from IRIN
http://www.irinnews.org/
The Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN), a branch of the United
Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, provides
regional and country-specific humanitarian news updates.
Online Newspapers
http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/index.htm
Online Newspapers provides access to daily and weekly on-line newspapers
from around the continent.
Books by Countries
Amazon has African history sections for browsing on the countries listed
below. For countries not listed, and for more links on each region, click
on the regions.

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