and investment in, Africa. According to the book,
Us$55 billion by 2006, with a reported 900 chinese
companies operating on the continent in 2006,
representing an overall investment of Us$6 billion.
from new roads to new buildings. critics, however,
point out the potential downsides--including the
possible link, real or imagined, between more
chinese nationals living in Africa and increased
poaching of elephants (see p. 19) and rhinos
(see pp. 4 5), whose ivory and horns, respectively,
are in high demand in china and throughout Asia.
are becoming the new norm in Africa. in April 2012, when
malawi's president, Bingu wa mutharika, died of cardiac
arrest, there were initial fears of a succession struggle. the
country, however, followed its constitution, and Joyce Banda
became Africa's second female president. this was followed
in July by the unexpected passing of Ghanaian president John
due to the globe's changing climate. With aid
agencies calling the drought in the horn of Africa
the worst in 60 years, and with millions of others
affected in West Africa, experts are pondering the
challenges posed to food security--particularly
on a continent so dependent on small-scale
subsistence agriculture (see p. 12).
Wangari maathai died september 25, 2011,
at the age of 71. Founder of the Green Belt
movement, an environmental nGo focused on
conservation and women's rights, maathai was
the first African woman and environmentalist to
be awarded a nobel peace prize. (For more on
in Africa, see pp. 30 35.)
erupted into a coup on march 21, 2012, as
malian soldiers mutinied and overthrew the
government. islamic terror groups have since
hijacked the northern rebellion and taken control
of several cities in northern mali. the economic
community of West African states (or ecoWAs)
is considering a military intervention as continued
tension threatens to destabilize surrounding
governments. incidentally, destabilized countries
make the trafficking of wildlife parts easier for
criminals and terror groups (see p. 1).