West Africa – News Stories About West Africa - Page 3

Mar 2, 2009 6:49 AM CST

President of Guinea-Bissau Assassinated

West African leader reportedly killed by army in a hail of bullets

(Newser) - The president of the West African republic of Guinea-Bissau was shot dead today, reportedly by soldiers. The Times of London reports that João Bernardo Vieira was assassinated only hours after the head of the army died in a bomb attack. While it's unclear whether a coup is taking place,...

Chaos Reigns in Guinea as Coup Leaders Assert Power

Dec 24, 2008 12:45 PM CST

Chaos Reigns in Guinea as Coup Leaders Assert Power

Junior officers strengthen control over government

(Newser) - Junior military officers appointed their coup leader as president of Guinea, even as their superiors denied that the so-called putsch had succeeded. Coup leaders also postponed elections promised in 60 days and said they may have to remain in control for two years, leaving the West African nation teetering between...

Quest on for Chocolate Genome

Jun 26, 2008 6:44 AM CDT

Quest on for Chocolate Genome

Mars aims to unlock genetic code to develop hardier cacao trees

(Newser) - Candy giant Mars is investing $10 million in a 5-year research project to unlock the secrets of chocolate's genetic code—the cocoa genome—as the first stage in developing cacao trees that can produce more, survive droughts, and combat disease. Mars intends to make the results public to stop key...

Ex-Slave Sues Gov't of Niger

Apr 9, 2008 9:51 AM CDT

Ex-Slave Sues Gov't of Niger

Says she was bargained for 'like a goat'

(Newser) - A young woman was bargained over "like a goat" and sold for $500 at the age of 12, she revealed yesterday in emotional testimony at a landmark slavery trial in an international court in West Africa. The 24-year-old former slave is suing the government of Niger for failing to...

Are Black Immigrants Black?

OPINION

Mar 1, 2008 7:31 PM CST

Are Black Immigrants Black?

Debra Dickerson on the divide between 'native' and 'immigrant' blacks

(Newser) - The notion that a black American must be a “descendant of West African slaves brought here to labor for whites against their will” just reinforces the “invisibility that black immigrants face in America,” Debra Dickerson writes in Mother Jones. But she can’t escape it herself, she...