Djibouti was once just a patch of desert in the Horn of Africa. Now, global militaries are hankering for a strategic position at its junction between Africa, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean. Locals don't always see what's so great about hosting the world's superpower enemies.
Tanzania’s stigmatization of sexual minorities along with repression of media and political space have caused its relationship with the world to deteriorate.
Tanzania was one of the first countries in sub-Saharan Africa to embrace family planning. But current president John Magufuli made headlines when he said he does “not see any need for birth control," asserting that population growth is actually an economic boon to the East African nation.
In some rural parts of Kenya, widowhood means you’re of little value. Culturally, widows are considered impure, and tradition dictates that they must be cleaned — or “cleansed” — of their partners’ death. The aim is to chase away the demons; the ritual requires women to have sex — either with a relative or stranger.
Some 821 million people now face food insecurity, raising numbers to the same level as almost a decade ago. The situation is worsening in South America, Central Asia and most regions of Africa, according to the UN's annual food security report. A resurgence in the use of "cover crop" and nanotechnologies may mitigate climate change impacts.
Bills? Groceries? School fees? Many Somalis have gone cashless, opting to use their mobile phones to send and receive money instead. But one study shows that the system lacks regulations and accountability.
On Saturday, OLF leader Dawud Ibsa arrived in the capital Addis Ababa aboard an Ethiopian Airlines plane. Tens of thousands of supporters attended a rally celebrating his return from neighboring Eritrea, where he has lived in exile.
Kathy Kriger was a commercial attaché for the American Embassy in Casablanca, Morocco. She was also a passionate entrepreneur who managed to create one of the most successful tourist attractions in Casablanca — Rick’s Café, an upscale restaurant and jazz club inspired by the famous nightclub in the 1942 classic "Casablanca."
Samuel Berhe, like many other Eritreans, fled the country some years ago to escape mandatory national service, which the government made indefinite following the 1998-2000 border war with Ethiopia. The war cost the countries an estimated 100,000 lives, while conscription created a generation of Eritrean refugees.
At rural hospitals in Africa, you'll often see high-tech medical equipment discarded and unused. In places where electricity is unreliable and spare parts are unavailable, expensive devices can quickly become worthless. So Dr. Oluyombo Awojobi designs and builds his own low-tech devices to keep his hospital running.
Abdi Nor Iftin always dreamed of leaving Somalia and coming to the United States, and his dream seemed to come true when he won a spot in the Diversity Visa Program, otherwise known as the green card lottery. But it turned out to be only the first step in a difficult and dangerous process.
In the impoverished countryside of Ethiopia, the village of Awra Amba stands out. This bustling community has grown wealthier than its neighbors by questioning tenets of local culture.
Disney has released the hit song from Frozen, "Let it Go," which includes 25 different languages — most of them European and none from Africa. This follows criticism that Disney has again depicted its female lead as blue-eyed and blonde-haired.
Scientists are warning West African villagers to stop hunting bush meat and to stay away from fruit bats as they circle in a possible animal source for the latest Ebola outbreak. The Ebola virus lives in fruit bats, scientists believe, and is threatening communities who are already facing the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history.
How easily can you catch Ebola? What does it do to your body? Emmanuel d'Harcourt, senior health director of the International Rescue Committee, which is helping fight the Ebola crisis in West Africa, offers some answers.
Isabella Alexander has spent years researching and reporting on the effort by migrants to cross from Morocco to Spain, via land routes. Now, she has named 47 previously unidentified victims of a failed sea crossing in early February.
Cancer can be triggered by infectious diseases, especially in impoverished parts of the world. Scientists in the US and Africa are working to unravel how viruses and bacteria cause malignancies.
“If we cannot be black in school, where can we be black?” asks an alum of Pretoria High School for Girls. “Where can we be black if we can’t be black in Africa?”
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Health & Medicine
This Nigerian doctor runs his hospital on corn cobs and used bike parts
PRI's The World
January 09, 2014
At rural hospitals in Africa, you'll often see high-tech medical equipment discarded and unused. In places where electricity is unreliable and spare parts are unavailable, expensive devices can quickly become worthless. So Dr. Oluyombo Awojobi designs and builds his own low-tech devices to keep his hospital running.
Justice
'Winning' the green card lottery is only the start of a harrowing journey
PRI's The World
December 29, 2014
Abdi Nor Iftin always dreamed of leaving Somalia and coming to the United States, and his dream seemed to come true when he won a spot in the Diversity Visa Program, otherwise known as the green card lottery. But it turned out to be only the first step in a difficult and dangerous process.
Development & Education
This Ethiopian village has gained wealth, but has bred hostility
PRI's The World
December 12, 2013
In the impoverished countryside of Ethiopia, the village of Awra Amba stands out. This bustling community has grown wealthier than its neighbors by questioning tenets of local culture.
Arts, Culture & Media
No room for African or Indian languages in Disney’s multilingual version of 'Let It Go'
PRI's The World
January 24, 2014
Disney has released the hit song from Frozen, "Let it Go," which includes 25 different languages — most of them European and none from Africa. This follows criticism that Disney has again depicted its female lead as blue-eyed and blonde-haired.
Global Politics
Can you name the five remaining communist countries in the world?
PRI's The World
December 10, 2013
If you know the five countries that still call themselves communist, can you say which one is hewing most closely to Marxist principles?
Development
As the Ebola crisis rages, West African villagers are warned away from fruit bats
PRI's The World
August 13, 2014
Scientists are warning West African villagers to stop hunting bush meat and to stay away from fruit bats as they circle in a possible animal source for the latest Ebola outbreak. The Ebola virus lives in fruit bats, scientists believe, and is threatening communities who are already facing the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history.
Health
Here's everything you wish you didn't need to know about Ebola
PRI's The World
October 15, 2014
Updated
How easily can you catch Ebola? What does it do to your body? Emmanuel d'Harcourt, senior health director of the International Rescue Committee, which is helping fight the Ebola crisis in West Africa, offers some answers.
Conflict
Forty-seven people died crossing the Mediterranean in a wooden boat last month. This is their story.
PRI's The World
March 01, 2018
Isabella Alexander has spent years researching and reporting on the effort by migrants to cross from Morocco to Spain, via land routes. Now, she has named 47 previously unidentified victims of a failed sea crossing in early February.
Health & Medicine
Part IV: The Infectious Connection
PRI's The World
December 06, 2012
Cancer can be triggered by infectious diseases, especially in impoverished parts of the world. Scientists in the US and Africa are working to unravel how viruses and bacteria cause malignancies.
Education
Until recently this school in South Africa told black girls to chemically straighten their hair
PRI's The World
August 30, 2016
Updated
“If we cannot be black in school, where can we be black?” asks an alum of Pretoria High School for Girls. “Where can we be black if we can’t be black in Africa?”