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Daily News on Issues Affecting Africa for July 22nd

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Continue reading for a summary of recent news stories relating to some of the most pressing issues on the continent. We draw on a wide range of respected news sources, both from Africa itself and around the world. The themes of today's In the News post are: updates on the Sudan crisis, Nigeria's president meets kidnapped girls, updates on the CAR, Francois Hollande's visit to Africa, and insights into Africa's economy.

Each Side of Sudan's Border, Hunger and Suffering Worsen As Conflicts Rage

With war raging in separate conflicts on both sides the Sudan-South Sudan border, civilians have nowhere to run and hunger is approaching famine levels, the United Nations said. South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011, following a peace deal that ended decades of civil war between north and south. But the new nation became embroiled in its own internal conflict in December 2013. Meanwhile, fighting has intensified between the government and rebels in Sudan's southern states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

To Read More from AllAfrica Click Here

Nigeria's Goodluck Jonathan meets Chibok parents

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan is meeting for the first time parents of the girls abducted by militant Islamists 100 days ago. More than 150 people attended the meeting after the government chartered a plane for them, reports say. Mr Jonathan has been under pressure to meet the parents after being accused of handing the crisis badly.

To Read More from BBC Africa Click Here

Live from Bangui: Why Inclusive Dialogue Matters in CAR

Last June, when I first arrived in the Central African Republic (CAR), one of the resident ex-pats suggested I visit 'Cinq Kilo' – Bangui's largest market. 'It's rowdy, but fun.' He said. 'Take someone local with you; it's famous for pickpockets too.' I liked the market, and soon felt confident enough to take one of the shared yellow public taxis back there alone. Speaking Arabic helped me bargain, as the vast majority of traders in Cinq Kilo were Muslim. Six months later anti-Balaka fighters attacked Bangui, effectively overthrowing the resident Seleka regime. Anti-Balaka commanders talked to me about 'Liberating' CAR from the violent excesses of Seleka, saying they had nothing against ordinary Muslims. But their own fighters dumped corpses with slit throats outside Mosques in Cinq Kilo, and Muslim businesses were looted en masse. Inter-communal violence spewed across Bangui for months. Cinq Kilo and its neighbourhoods became Bangui's 'No-go Zone'.

To Read More from African Arguments Click Here

François Hollande's African adventures

RANCE's president, François Hollande, took office in 2012 knowing little of Africa. He may tread in the footsteps of his mentor, François Mitterrand, but he had none of the former Socialist president's cosy ties to African strongmen and French businessmen through the web of interests known as Françafrique. Yet Africa has a way of intruding on French politics. And Mr Hollande's tour of Ivory Coast, Niger and Chad between July 17th and 19th takes place amid a security rethink.

To Read More from the Economist Click Here

Is Africa Short Selling?

VENTURES AFRICA – Lots of research published recently seem to point too the same thing: Africa may not be getting sufficient bang for the buck it gives the world! A union of African and UK partners released a research indicating that Africa may be losing as much as six and a half times the amount of money it receives in aid. Another report reveals that the continent receives about $30 billion in aid per year but loses some $192 billion every year to to illicit financial flows, debt repayments, costs associated with climate change, repatriation of multinational company profits and the loss of skilled workers. When all financial inflows are considered holistically, Africa runs at a net loss of $58 billion every year.

To Read More from Ventures Africa Click Here

Related Program

Africa Program

The Africa Program works to address the most critical issues facing Africa and US-Africa relations, build mutually beneficial US-Africa relations, and enhance knowledge and understanding about Africa in the United States. The Program achieves its mission through in-depth research and analyses, public discussion, working groups, and briefings that bring together policymakers, practitioners, and subject matter experts to analyze and offer practical options for tackling key challenges in Africa and in US-Africa relations.    Read more