Senegal will mark on Monday the 100th anniversary of the birth of "poet-president" Leopold Sedar Senghor, whose political and literary legacy will be honoured in events across the West African country in December. Senghor, who became Senegal’s first president after it gained independence in 1960, helped develop the concept of Negritude, or pride in black African culture.
No image available
/ 25 September 2006
”We talk of globalisation, of the global village, but here in Africa, we are under the impression of being that village’s septic tank,” says Senegalese ecologist Haidar al-Ali. A series of pollution scandals, ranging from the discharge of toxic waste in Côte d’Ivoire to radioactive tanks in Somalia, show that Africa’s poverty, corruption, and non-existent or malfunctioning democracies make it the world’s preferred dumping ground.
No image available
/ 19 November 2004
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on Friday urged African leaders gathered for a landmark summit to overcome decades of suspicion and bring hope to those living in the volatile Great Lakes region, which has been riven by wars and genocide. Annan was opening the landmark two-day conference in Tanzania.
The families of Kenyan truck drivers kidnapped in Iraq have criticised their government and urged France to step in and mediate the release of the hostages, whose execution was stayed on Monday to allow negotiations. An Iraqi militant group calling itself Holders of the Black Banners last Wednesday kidnapped the Kenyans and four other men.