The Council on Foreign Relations's Nigeria Security Tracker, an effort to catalog and map political violence based on a weekly survey of Nigerian and international press. The data presented includes violent incidents related to political, economic, and social grievances directed at the state or other affiliative groups (or conversely the state employing violence to respond to those incidents.)

A recent agremeent between Sudan and South Sudan to restart oil exports is likely to improve the macroeconomic situations of the countries, while paving the way for future negotiations over land disputes, says expert Alex de Waal.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf discusses the progress she has made as head of state and the challenges facing her country.

Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf discusses the progress she has made as head of state and the challenges facing her country.

Beijing's increasing diplomatic and commercial presence in Africa has led to a grassroots backlash across the country from its native residents.

The situation in Mali challenges U.S. goals of promoting stability, democracy, civilian control of the military, and effective counterterrorism in Africa, and raises questions regarding the strategic design and effectiveness of existing U.S. efforts to do so.

As Zimbabwe moves closer to elections, the prospect for political violence grows. CFR Senior Fellow John Campbell argues that coordination on Zimbabwe policy can be the basis of a stronger overall U.S.-South Africa relationship to help promote free, fair and credible elections.

Weak governance and radical jihadists are at the heart of Mali's crisis, says CFR's John Campbell, who cautions that any intervention should focus on humanitarian aid and diplomacy, not the security threat.

Terra Lawson-Remer and Joshua Greenstein say, "Many resource-rich African countries make poor use of their wealth... Instead of creating prosperity, resources have too often fostered corruption, undermined inclusive economic growth, incited armed conflict and damaged the environment."

Between enthusiasm for President Obama's pro-democracy message and appreciation for the Democratic Party's support for the anti-apartheid movement, South Africans strongly favor Obama's reelection, says Moeletsi Mbeki.

The West may no longer be the main target for terrorist organizations; turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa has given rise to an increased number of more locally-focused attacks in the last year.

Provides background information and research links on Africa, including sections on news, country background, history, data, government, and U.S. policy towards Africa.

UN Security Council Resolution 788 regarding Liberia was adopted on November 19, 1992.

Two groups wage a bitter fight for control over the West African nation, writes Andy Morgan for al-Jazeera.

Any action Brazil takes in Africa should be based on peaceful cooperation and not military escalation, writes Nikolas Kozloff.

With Mali's north under rebel control, fears are growing that a breakaway Islamist state could emerge, writes Xan Rice at the Financial Times.

In this United States Institute of Peace special report, freelance journalist Andrew Walker explains the history of Boko Haram, an extremist Islamic sect in Nigeria, that has created havoc across the north of the country and its violent attacks on government offices, the United Nations, and churches.

December 2008 ECOWAS Abuja Declaration ("Political Declaration on the Prevention Of Drug Abuse, Illicit Drug Trafficking and Organized Crimes in West Africa") was adopted in December 2008.

The African Union Plan of Action on Drug Control and Crime Prevention Enforcement Mechanism was adopted on December 7, 2007 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The ECOWAS Transnational Action Plan on Organized Crime was released on July 2, 2010 at the ECOWAS session in Cape Verde.