World | Africa | Africa Monitor

For years, Nigeria was Washington DC's most important strategic partner on issues of security and stability in Africa. But, Boko Haram, and Abuja’s response, has put that partnership in jeopardy.

Boko Haram appears to be focusing on the acquisition of territory, and it's moving in the direction of providing services, especially security, for residents in the territories it controls. But will residents who fled the extremist group really return? 

Experimental drugs have been used on infected patients, but none have been approved by the World Health Organization. There are signs that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa is being contained in some countries.

The US is the biggest financial donor to Ebola-infected countries in West Africa. But the largest number of healthcare workers deployed in the field hail from an island nation with a cash-strapped communist government.

Author helped create the index in 2007 but laments that Africa's two best governed countries are islands far out at sea. Most Africans today have still never known the rule of law, security, good education and free speech. 

Days after Botswana is named the best governed nation on the African continent by the Ibrahim Index, a leading diamond concern moves its sales staff there. Joint venture is seen as win-win. 

The previous Sudanese civil war and US humanitarian efforts gave world attention to the 'Lost Boys.' But scant attention is paid to 'Lost Girls.' As South Sudan plunges back into conflict, the risks that girls face are mounting. 

The shadowy insurgent Nigerian group is remarkably resilient and doesn't rely on one paramount leader.

The extremist Islamic group now holds 25 towns in the three northeast Nigerian states where they operate. Group has heavy weapons says Catholic prelate from Maiduguri, Boko Haram's 'hometown.' 

At least 5,000 people have been infected with the deadly disease in West Africa since March. Sierra Leone is the first country to impose a nationwide curfew.