ADF

He acted from his heart ADF STAFF In 1994, after the assassination of the president of Rwanda, soldiers of the presidential guard tortured and killed Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana, her husband and 10 Belgian peacekeepers. Hutu extremists took power and began the infamous Rwandan genocide, killing hundreds of thousands of members of the Tutsi minority and some politically moderate Hutus. That same morning, United Nations peacekeeper Mbaye Diagne got word of the murders. The Senegalese captain went to investigate and found the prime minister’s five children hiding. When reinforcements did not arrive, Mbaye hid the children under blankets in his vehicle…

CLUES This water body’s salt content is 34.8 percent. That’s 10 times higher than the oceans and 5 to 10 percent higher than the Dead Sea. It is one of the hottest places on earth, with temperatures sometimes climbing above 50 degrees Celsius during the day. It is about 155 meters below sea level, making it the lowest place on the African continent. The name of this place translates to “the honey lake.” ANSWER: Lake Assal, Djibouti

It’s natural for security professionals to think of their duties in a traditional sense. They’re trained to defend borders, protect the nation, and repel internal and external threats. But beginning in the early 1990s, a new term began to gain currency: human security. In 1994, the United Nations codified this concept, saying security needs to include protection from disease, hunger, crime, social conflict, unemployment, political repression and environmental hazards. Security “has been related more to nation-states than to people,” the U.N. wrote in its annual human development report. “Forgotten were the legitimate concerns of ordinary people.” This is an important…

When I took over as the eighth elected president of the African Development Bank on September 1, 2015, I was elated at the greater possibilities that lie ahead for Africa and the role that the bank can play.  To further accelerate the development of Africa, the bank has raised the bar on its level of ambition. We call them the High-Fives for Africa: Light up and power Africa; Feed Africa; Industrialize Africa; Integrate Africa; and Improve the quality of life for Africans. LIGHT UP AND POWER AFRICA: Over 645 million Africans do not have access to electricity — and 700…

REUTERS/ADF STAFF Former colonial power Italy left Eritrea in 1941, but its architectural legacy lives on. Today, the capital, Asmara, is home to some of the world’s best-preserved examples of early 20th century modernist architecture. To make sure these buildings are enjoyed by future generations, the Eritrean government wants the city declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. “The city is very intact and maintains its original character,” said Medhanie Teklemariam, coordinator for the Asmara Heritage Project, which has drawn up an inventory of about 4,300 buildings in Asmara’s historic perimeter. The nomination dossier for World Heritage Site status was submitted…

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Niamey’s dusty racing track is a far cry from Niger’s equine glory days, when horses bred in the country enjoyed international fame. Although formal meets ended 30 years ago, hundreds of young Nigeriens gather on Saturdays to witness improvised races. Professional jockeys, trainers and bookmakers all jostle to make money and entertain the crowds. The country hopes past glories can be revived with the construction of a new horse-racing complex. On a given day, crowds of several hundred turn out to watch, and as many as 20 jockeys depend on their results to live. Those who place first…

ADF STAFF Ghana announced plans to issue visas upon arrival to nationals of all 54 African Union (AU) member states starting in July 2016. The move by President John Dramani Mahama is aimed at stimulating air travel, investment, tourism and trade. The decision comes after the AU Executive Council adopted a resolution stipulating that member states try to set up systems that would allow visas upon arrival for travelers coming from other member states. The new process allows for stays of up to 30 days. “We believe creating opportunity for the mobility of people on our continent is key to…

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Africa’s first homegrown platform for legal music downloads has launched in Senegal with a mission to promote African artists, pay them properly and fight internet piracy. Internationally famous musicians such as Youssou N’Dour and Baaba Maal are among almost 200 who have signed agreements with MusikBi, along with younger rappers, jazz artists, and Christian and Muslim vocalists. The platform draws its name from the word for music in Wolof, the language widely spoken in Senegal, said project developer Moustapha Diop at the launch in Dakar in February 2016. Songs cost between 300 and 500 West African CFA francs…

6 Major Human Security Threats Are Connected to Each Other ADF STAFF Security threats are not always measured in guns, bullets and armed conflicts. Sometimes, the things that most threaten communities — and nations — are rooted in the environment or in the day-to-day interactions of people and the land around them. Many human security threats are seemingly disparate and random. But a closer look indicates that most of them are interrelated. If one worsens or intensifies, it can exacerbate the effects of others. The results can be as wide-ranging and catastrophic as war or civil unrest. When looking at climate…

A conversation with Kenya Army Lt. Gen. Njuki Mwaniki on human security ADF STAFF Retired Lt. Gen. Njuki Mwaniki is a former commander of the Kenya Army. During nearly 40 years in the Kenya Defence Forces, he held posts including general officer commanding of the Kenya Army’s Eastern Command, chief of Army staff and commandant of the National Defence College. From 2001 to 2003, he was chairman of the Joint Military Commission for the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement, which helped broker an end to the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is a native of Kenya’s Central Region…