Osama Bin Laden: How the U.S. helped midwife a terrorist

By Ahmed Rashid

A history of U.S. involvement in Central Asia, leading to the rise of Muslim radicals in 43 countries.

Excerpts from this story referencing "West Africa":

"… state.Thousands of miles away in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania in West Africa, several militants were arrested who had also trained under Bin Laden in A …"

Widespread fraud in Ivory Coast HIV/AIDS prevention programs

By Laurel Adams

A review of HIV/AIDS prevention programs in Ivory Coast finds that millions of dollars in aid was blatantly misused by non-governmental orga

Excerpts from this story referencing "West Africa":

"… working with the USAID program. The inspector general concluded that USAID/West Africa did not achieve its goals of strengthening HIV/AIDS care and has only part …"

"… and fraud by partner organizations, the inspector general holds the USAID/West Africa staff accountable. “Many of the problems discussed in this report could …"

Black markets, organized crime ravaging West Africa

By Kate Willson

A thriving cigarette black market is depleting West African economies of tax dollars, fueling corruption, and possibly funding insurgencies,

Excerpts from this story referencing "West Africa":

"… gation of the illicit trade. …"

"… a report released today by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.“West Africa has everything that criminals need: resources, a strategic location, weak …"

"… ls Sierra Leone’s GDP.)Ships from China and Eastern Europe dock in major West African ports carrying containers of smokes that lack legible invoices and serial …"

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Pius Njawe: Loss of a journalism giant

By Marina Walker Guevara

On July 12, ICIJ lost one of its most embattled and admired members. Over a 30-year journalism career, Pius Njawe braved arrest more than 10

Excerpts from this story referencing "West Africa":

"… a had experienced a minor heart attack during a soccer match. Njawe became West Africa’s youngest editor and publisher when he founded the newspaper Le Message …"

Making a killing

By Phillip van Niekerk

Overview story for Making a killing: The business of war

Excerpts from this story referencing "West Africa":

"… e after reports that Osama bin Laden made good use of the diamond trade in West Africa, employing the dealers and networks that had helped to fund rebel forces i …"

Greasing the skids of corruption

By Phillip van Niekerk and Laura Peterson

Money from multinational oil companies moves through labyrinths of international bank accounts, avoiding national budgets and banks

Excerpts from this story referencing "West Africa":

"… tricate from Swiss banks. And attempts by the newest petroleum hot spot in West Africa, Equatorial Guinea, to enter into an IMF loan program were put on hold by …"

"… Council predicted, a quarter of all the oil America imports will come from West Africa.Angola will be one of the prime beneficiaries of that diversification. The …"

"… ount also received a $330,000 deposit from the national oil company of the West African island-nation of Sao Tome and Principe, of which Sonangol owns a 40-perce …"

"… and corporate worlds were willing to embrace him in exchange for stability.West African oil has always had its boosters, generally confined in the past to a grou …"

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The curious bonds of oil diplomacy

By Sunday Dare

U.S. oil firms had invested over $3 billion in Equatorial Guinea in 2002

Excerpts from this story referencing "head of national security in Equatorial Guinea and the president":

"… f Sonavi, the private security company owned by Gen. Armengol Ondo Nguema, head of national security in Equatorial Guinea and the president's brother, with whom they must contract. Sonavi, headquartered in the weal …"

Conflict diamonds are forever

By Mungo Soggot

De Beers Mines strike major diamond find in area previously believed to be worthless

Excerpts from this story referencing "West Africa":

"… nnected to a web of influential Lebanese families working in the Congo and West Africa that includes Imad Bakri. Bakri was identified in a 2000 U.N. report (unde …"

The merchant of death

By André Verlöy

With 300 employees and a large fleet of cargo planes, Victor Bout's actions were near impossible to track

Excerpts from this story referencing "Moammar Gadhafi":

"… harles Taylor, former Zairean President Mobutu Sese Seko, Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi, Jean-Pierre Bemba, the leader of the Congo Liberation Front, and the form …"

Côte d'Ivoire

By Victoria Kreha

Background, challenges and relief efforts related to the AIDS epidemic in Côte d'Ivoire

Excerpts from this story referencing "West Africa":

"… she said. …"

"… sector.The face of HIVCôte d'Ivoire has the highest HIV infection rate in West Africa, and its worst impact is in the western part of the country. Jyoti Schlesi …"

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