AFRICA.

PositionIN THE NEWS 2019 - Table - Geographic overview

RHINO RESCUE

The black rhino is a critically endangered species, according to the World Wildlife Fund, with only about 5,000 remaining worldwide. Poachers kill the animals for their horns, which bring huge amounts of money on the black market, mostly in Asia. As part of an effort to save black rhinos from extinction, conservationists are moving them to safety from areas in Kenya and South Africa where they're at great risk. One group, called Rhinos Without Borders, is airlifting endangered rhinos to protected areas in Botswana at an estimated cost of $45,000 per animal.

Caption: A rescued rhino is airlifted to an animal sanctuary in Botswana in 2017.

ZIMBABWE

After 37 years of rule by strongman Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe has a new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa. But the presidential election in July 2018 was marred by accusations of fraud by the opposition candidate. Mnangagwa now leads a nation facing massive problems, including a collapsed economy, high inflation, and an unemployment rate that some observers say may be as high as 95 percent.

Caption: Supporters celebrate the new president in 2018.

ISLAMIC MILITANTS

Islamic militant groups--such as Boko Haram in Nigeria and Al Shabab in Somalia and Kenya--remain a substantial threat in both East and West Africa. Both groups have imposed a strict version of Islamic law in the areas they control. They also both have associations with larger terrorist groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda and have carried out an increasing number of attacks that include kidnappings and bombings.

Caption: Boko Haram militants in Nigeria, shown in a 2014 video

Africa COUNTRY AREA (SQ MI) URBAN POP. % CAPITAL POPULATION POP. RISE %/YEAR Algeria 919,595 73 Algiers 42,657,000 2.2 Angola 481,354 63 Luanda 30,356,000 3.5 Benin 44,310 45 Porto-Novo 11,486,000 2.8 Botswana 224,607 70 Gaborone 2,249,000 1.2 Burkina 104,543 29 Ouagadougou Faso 20,258,000 3.1 Burundi 10,747 13 Bujumbura 11,845,000 3.0 Cabo Verde 1,557 66 Praia 550,000 1.4 Cameroon 183,920 56 Yaounde 25,641,000 2.6 Central 240,324 41 Bangui African 4,737,000 2.2 Republic Chad 495,755 23 N'Djamena 15,408,000 3.1 Comoros 719 29 Moroni 832,000 2.5 Congo, 905,568 45 Kinshasa Democratic 84,344,000 3.3 Rep. Congo, 132,047 67 Brazzaville Republic 5,400,000 2.3 Cote d'lvoire 124,504 51 Yamoussoukro (Ivory Coast) 24,906,000 2.3 Djibouti 8,960 78 Djibouti 971,000 1.5 Egypt (6) 384,790 43 Cairo 97,007,000 2.1 Equatorial 10,831 71 Malabo Guinea 1,314,000 2.4 Eritrea 46,760 40 Asmara...

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