French West Africa

Many of the products sold at Victoria’s Secret are said to contain ‘fair-trade’ cotton. But a new report from Bloomberg News found that that cotton is often planted and picked by children 13 and younger, who are forced to work like slaves.

The al-Qaeda militants who took over northern Mali imposed their harsh brand of Sharia law. The common wisdom is that the militants’ behavior alienated most Malians. But that’s not the whole story, as the CBC’s Laura Lynch reports.

The final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in South Africa will feature Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Burkina Faso’s Stallions. The World’s Anders Kelto gives the rundown to host Marco Werman.

Turmoil continues to grip Mali, weeks after French forces liberated the north of the country from Islamist rebels. Friday, the first suicide bombing took place in Gao. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Lydia Polgreen of The New York Times in Bamako.

Tourism used to be a big industry for the West African country Mali. But now that the country is in crisis, foreigners have stopped visiting. And Malians are suffering from the lack of tourist dollars. Bonnie Allen takes us on a tour.