Daily News on the Issues Affecting Africa for February 15th

Continue reading for news including stories on the SADC mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Nile River named named one of Africa's Seven Wonders, the potential longevity of the conflict in Mali, microfinance in Africa, and increased violence by Al Shabaab.

SADC mission to DR Congo could be suicidal
"South Africa plans to deploy troops to the most troubled part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) soon, on what could be the first aggressive, long-term engagement by the army since 1994. But how many troops will go, how long they will be committed and why they are really going remain unknown. South Africa's army chief Lieutenant General Vusumuzi Masondo flew to the DRC this week to meet the commanders of the United Nations force stationed there to consider the feasibility and logistics of deploying soldiers..."
To read the full article, visit the Mail and Guardian site here

River Nile named among Africa's seven wonders
"Uganda has once again received recognition from the international tourism community after the Source of the Nile was named among the seven natural wonders of Africa early this week.
The Seven Wonders of Africa Project was initiated in 2008 by Texas-based Dr Philip Imler with an aim of identifying seven natural wonders on the African continent and protect them..."
To read the full article, visit the East African site hereWar in Mali may drag on for a long time
"Hopes that the "combat phase" of the war in Mali was over have been all but extinguished by two suicide bombings in the northern city of Gao. The Islamist attacks last weekend, which also featured heavily armed gunmen breaking through city defences, doused expectations that the ­radical groups who controlled the Saharan north would melt back into the desert when faced with organised military opposition.They have also made it harder for France to stick to its March deadline for withdrawing troops and shelved efforts to install a United Nations peacekeeping force in their place. Paris has 4 000 French troops on the ground in its former colony, with roughly half of the 8 000 African troops from the region also deployed. French President François Hollande has publicly voiced his intention to begin drawing down the French presence in March..."
To read the full article, visit the Mail and Guardian site here

The Anatomy Of Microfinance
"The growth of microfinance institutions in Africa has been nothing short of spectacular. However, while some institutions such as Kenya's Equity Bank have been hugely beneficial to the usually unbanked, others have fallen short of the mark and some have ruthlessly exploited the very people they claim to serve. What are microfinance institutions and how should they be governed? Moin Siddiqi provides the answers..."
To read the full article, visit the African Business site here

Al Shabaab executes Kenyan hostage, threaten 5 more
"Al Shabaab militants claim to have executed a captured Kenyan soldier and repeated threats to kill five other hostages, the extremists said Friday. "While the mujahedeen have executed the serving KDF (Kenya Defence Force) soldier, there is still a chance of securing the release of the remaining five prisoners," the Shabaab said in a statement..."
To read the full article, visit the East African site here