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Africa Matters
Sarah Pollak
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April 29, 2008
Darfur: What can I do?
I've received quite a lot of feedback from my recent posts about Darfur. E-mails range from encouraging to desperate to downright pessimistic. Many ask, More...
April 23, 2008
Darfur: Tell us something new...
Thank you, United Nations, for confirming what most of us already knew...the death toll in Darfur is much higher than the U.N. has been quoting for years. More...
April 16, 2008
Stepping Up to the Plate
With the looming global food crisis, will Christians hit the ball out of the park and get a home run or will we strike out and miss the opportunity to win a major victory over famine? More...
April 7, 2008
The Lives of Ntarama
On this day fourteen years ago, a demonic and vicious genocide was unleashed. At the end of 100 days, nearly one million people had been slaughtered in Rwanda...a large number of them in the churches that dot the countryside. Ntarama is one of those chur More...
April 2, 2008
The End of Mugabe?
The MDC is claiming opposition party candidate Morgan Tsvarvingi will be the next president of Zimbabwe. More...
April 1, 2008
For the First Time in 30 Years Zimbabwe May Have New Rule
All eyes are on sub-Saharan Africa, where voters eagerly wait for the results from Saturday’s Presidential elections in Zimbabwe More...
March 30, 2008
Purpose Driven Nation
I just got in from the launch of the nationwide 40 Days of Purpose. It is a historic day for Rwandans. More...
March 25, 2008
On Assignment to Africa
Be looking for special coverage out of Central Africa in the coming days...Africa Matters blog is hitting the road! More...
March 17, 2008
Reunited at Last!
Nearly 100 children in Chad have been reunited with their families. More...
March 7, 2008
Learning from Readers
Insightful comments from Africa Matters readers on various issues in Kenya and Zimbabwe. More...
February 29, 2008
A Kingdom Divided
Will the new peace deal of divided power sharing be successful in Kenya? More...
February 26, 2008
An African Kosovo?
A recent article says many small groups in Africa may use Kosovo's announcement of independence as an excuse to try to succeed from their countries! More...
February 22, 2008
Hilarious...A Must Watch!
I am not in the habit of posting a lot of funny, satirical stuff on the Africa Matters blog...but this video is just too good not to pass along to you! More...
February 20, 2008
Bush, Bases & "Baloney"
As the President gets ready to head home, it makes one wonder what else America has to do to prove that its friendship with the African continent is not just More...
February 11, 2008
Harambee: Pulling Together for Survival
Harambee is the official motto of Kenya in Kiswahili. It means "let us all pull together." Given the current crisis, is this still attainable? More...
February 6, 2008
Kenya: Looking for a Solomon
In looking for a workable solution for the violence in Kenya, one must use the wisdom of Solomon. More...
February 5, 2008
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Rift Valley Earthquakes
As if East Africa isn't going through enough right now, Rwanda and Congo were hit with two earthquakes over the weekend. See my report on the damage to local churches. More...
February 2, 2008
Is anyone paying attention?
An update on the coup attempt in Chad and the fresh violence in Kenya. More...
January 25, 2008
Kenyans Pray for Peace
I would like to thank the many Africa Matters readers who took the time to write in this week with their views of the current crisis in Kenya. I am appearing on Christian World News today to discuss all the feedback I've been getting. More...
January 23, 2008
Fox Guarding the Hen House
After years of international pressure and the attention of several Hollywood stars to stop the genocide in Darfur, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has promoted Musa Hilal, an alleged Janjaweed militia commander, to a key job in his government! More...
January 22, 2008
DR Congo: Finally, Good News! Maybe...
A ceasefire agreement is in the works in the Democratic Republic of Congo! Voice of America reports President Joseph Kabila's government is expected to sign a truce today with the rebel forces in the country's North Kivu Province. More...
January 21, 2008
Calling All Kenyans
Whether you are in Kenya or living abroad, I would like to know your take on the current crisis! More...
January 15, 2008
The Secret of True Change
One Africa Matters reader seems to have found the key to lasting change. More...
January 14, 2008
The Low Price of Life
According to one Kenyan human rights group, one life has a price tag of about $16 USD right now. That's the price of a nice lunch in the United States or a CD's worth of downloads from iTunes. More...
January 11, 2008
Feedback from Kenya
Wrapping up a week's worth of horrific violence in Kenya. More...
January 10, 2008
FGM: Hope for the Hurting
The practice of female genital mutilation is carried out around the world, but FGM is most popular in Africa. More...
January 7, 2008
Kibaki & Odinga to Meet
Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga are agreeing to meet. Read all about it! Plus, a reader's comment from Sweden. More...
January 7, 2008
Kenya: Options as Death Toll Climbs
More people died in Kenya's post-election violence than first thought. A government official says nearly 500 people have been killed in the past week or so. And the violence has left more than a quarter of a million people homeless. This post takes a More...
January 2, 2008
Chilling Story from Kenya
The Independent has an amazing story you simply MUST read. More...
January 2, 2008
Update on Kenya Violence
I was finally able to get through to someone in Nairobi. The neighbor of a friend. She asks everyone to pray for the peace of Kenya. Read this post for reader response to the violence. More...
January 2, 2008
Church Torched in Kenya
A church is burned down in Kenya. Fifty have been killed, most of them children. More...
December 25, 2007
Joy to the World
Merry Christmas to all! I just thought I would share the lyrics of one of my favorite Christmas carols. More...
December 23, 2007
A Gift for Jesus
This is a very special story about the lessons God has taught me through my African nativity set. More...
December 20, 2007
Prepare a Highway
I've ridden the horribly bumpy back roads of Africa. Heck...I've taken rides where there are no roads. I think I might even still have the bruises from banging around in the back of trucks to prove it! I can personally attest to the fact that t More...
BREAKING: Zuma Elected New ANC Leader
Jacob Zuma has beaten incumbant Thabo Mbeki and won the election for the top job with the African National Congress. This puts Zuma in line to become South Africa's next president. More...
December 18, 2007
South Africa Votes
The polls are closed in South Africa now. The votes are being counted. We should know soon who the next leader will be of South Africa's ruling African National Congress. And who wins this election, will probably determine who will be the next Pre More...
December 14, 2007
Reconciliation in Sudan?
The leaders of North and South Sudan seem to have patched things up between them just in time for Christmas...for the most part. All that's left to settle is the oil rich area called Abyei. Both sides say the agreement will pave the way for the South More...
December 13, 2007
Africa's Worst Humanitarian Crisis
It's not Darfur. It's not eastern Congo. It's not Zimbabwe. The United Nations Children's Fund said in a report last week that SOMALIA has devolved in to Africa's worst human tragedy in Africa right now. The conflict there has More...
December 11, 2007
The Price of a Vote
South Africa's African National Congress is admitting to trying to BUY votes! This could greatly effect the outcome of the coming election. More...
December 7, 2007
Sounding the Alarm
The Horn of Africa is heading for a major humanitarian catastrophe. The U.N. says the crises in south-eastern Ethiopia, Darfur and Somalia could get much worse in the months ahead. More...
December 6, 2007
Love fest in Lisbon?
The second Africa-European Union summit starts tomorrow in Lisbon, Portugal. Oh, joy. Oh, rapture. More...
December 3, 2007
BREAKING: British Teacher Released!
British teacher Gillian Gibbons is FREE! Thank goodness! More...
November 30, 2007
Death for a Teddy Bear
Death? The penalty for naming a cute, cuddly teddy bear "Muhammad" is death? Are you serious? The Sudanese rioting in Khartoum's central square seemed to have taken leave of their senses! Brandishing knives and clubs, they scream "kill her by fir More...
November 30, 2007
Ian Smith: Letter by Peter Hammond
I got an e-mail from noted author Dr. Peter Hammond of Frontline Fellowship yesterday. He shares his unique insights about the life of the Former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Ian Smith... More...
November 29, 2007
Ian Smith: Demon, Saint or Something in Between?
Reaction from Africa Matters readers on the life of Former Zimbabwe Prime Minister Ian Smith. More...
November 29, 2007
15 Days in Jail
In talking it over with my collegues, I really think this is the best thing that could have happened in the case of the British teacher. More...
November 28,2007
Bearly a Case!
A British school teacher is facing six months in jail and 40 lashes for allowing her students to name a teddy bear More...
November 27, 2007
Too Few Good Guys
There's a really interesting article in this week's Economist about the lack of soldiers (a.k.a More...
November 20, 2007
Former Zimbabwe PM Dies
Rhodesia's last white prime minister, Ian Smith, died of a stroke on Tuesday at age 88. Let me know what you think about his life. More...
November 16, 2007
A Must Read!
Here it is…the first installment of my official book recommendations! The quest for some of the best, most inspirational books on Africa began when one Africa Matters reader sent in a request for some resources for ministry. More...
November 14, 2007
Child Witches
Can a child be a witch? How about a demon possessed kid? A recent New York Times article reports a growing phenomenon in Angola, Congo and the Congo Republic. Parents and families call a child a witch and kick them out on the street. They beat these child More...
November 14, 2007
Your Book Recommendations...
I know I promised to get those great book recommendations about ministry in Africa out last week, but to be honest I've gotten so many great suggestions it's taking me a little while to sift through them all! More...
November 7, 2007
Congrats, Madame President!
Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf won the highest award possible from the United States. More...
November 5, 2007
End Justifies Means?
There was a baby in a hospital in South Sudan. He was so sweet! There was something about him that drew you in with his sad little eyes. His big brother was walking around with him trying to calm him down. I stopped the boy and asked if I could hold his l More...
October 31, 2007
African Music to My Ears!
It's not often that I pass along recommendations for other web sites, but I've just got to pass this one on! The name of the web site is AfriClassical. It is GREAT! I've discovered some truly remarkable classical music that I didn't ev More...
October 31, 2007
Last Call: Africa Book Nominations
This is the last call for all your favorite books about Africa recommendations. Remember, these are books written about ministry and outreach to Africans, personal memoirs from Christians or inspirational stories written by Africans. I'd also consi More...
October 30,2007
French Arrested for Kidnapping
It seems tremendously naïve for these French aid workers to think they could fly out more than 100 kids with no paperwork and not get in trouble. More...
October 29, 2007
Know any good Africa books?
An Africa Matters reader needs help finding books about ministry in Africa. Can you help? I also write a book review of one of my favorite books on the topic. More...
October 26, 2007
Hutus & Tutsis at War...again?
The Hutus and Tutsis may go back to war again. More...
October 24, 2007
S. Sudan: Peace in Jeopardy
South Sudan looks as though it's heading towards another war. I hope my prediction doesn't come true... More...
October 22, 2007
Rugby: Springboks Rule!
Congratulations to South Africa's Springboks! They have crushed England Roses and taken the World Cup! Sorry, England fans, but...WAY TO GO, SA! More...
October 17, 2007
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Africans Not Less Intelligent!
One of the world's most celebrated scientists, Dr. James Watson, is issuing a rather weak apology today after he was quoted in the British newspaper More...
October 15, 2007
Africa's Missing Billions
If the countries of Africa could resolve their conflicts peacefully - without war - there would be no problem for these countries to afford to care for the food and medical needs of their people. That's according to a new report by Oxfam Internationa More...
October 3, 2007
Senegal's Not Stupid!
Senegal is threatening to pull out of the African Union force in Darfur. Hmmm. I wonder why? Oh, yeah. Maybe the fact that the AU troops are now in just as much danger as the villagers. More...
October 1, 2007
Darfur: Case in Point
My last blog posting Friday discussed the desperate need for any U.N. peacekeepers entering Darfur to be ARMED; willing to defend themselves and others. More...
September 28, 2007
U.N. Must Fight in Darfur
If we learned anything from the Rwandan genocide, it is that when the U.N. peacekeepers hands are tied, people die. The new hybrid of a United Nations/African Union force is due to deploy in Darfur soon. But if they cannot shoot their weapons, they might More...
September 25, 2007
World Vision Attacked in Darfur
I just got off the phone with a World Vision spokesman. She filled me in on their three aid workers that were shot earlier this week. She also told me about the most recent attack. More...
September 25, 2007
Hope for French Speaking Africa!
Greetings, one and all! As I mentioned yesterday, I have recently returned from a long trip to France. I spoke at a great Christian broadcasters conference in Paris sponsored by Radio Vie Ile de France and Sharing International. More...
September 24, 2007
I am Back!
Greetings, one and all! I have recently returned from a wonderful trip to France. I am looking forward to starting to crank out more blogs. So much has happened while I have been away... More...
August 24, 2007
Dirty Monkey Business
After a week of discussing corruption, politics and character assassination, I think it's time to lighten up a bit. Here's today's nugget of truth…monkeys are not the cute, cuddly critters that you might think they are! Now, before I get an More...
August 21, 2007
Sex, Lies & Videotape-Part II
Yesterday, I blogged about the strange events taking place in Zimbabwe surrounding Archbishop Pius Ncube. I asked for reader feedback. So, today, I want to pass along some comments… More...
August 20, 2007
Sex, Lies & Videotape
This posting has nothing to do with the movie, but the story I have been following out of Zimbabwe contains all three elements… More...
August 14, 2007
Journalists Gagged in Kenya
Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki has a very important decision before him. Should journalists be forced to reveal their sources to an More...
August 10, 2007
Africa's Storms, America's Hurricanes
Tropical Storm Dean is a great example of just how much what happens in Africa effects the lives of Americans. Dean spawned off the coast of Africa and is right now making its way across the ocean, heading for the Caribbean…and then…who knows? More...
August 2, 2007
Amazing Video: Out of the Pit
There's so little positive news that comes out of Haiti…here's a story of hope! More...
August 1, 2007
Darfur: It's about Time…
Four years...since the beginning of the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. Nearly two years…since former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton controversially stopped hearings on Darfur. More...
July 27, 2007
Sarkozy Gets Cozy with Africa
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is wrapping up his whirlwind tour of Africa. Along the way, he's been announcing his plans for a renewed partnership with the continent. More...
July 20, 2007
My Favorite Snow Picture from S.A.
Recently, Johannesburg got its first snow in decades! More...
July 17, 2007
URGENT: Zimbabwe Archbishop Charged with Adultery
While on my lunch break, I was checking out headlines on my cell phone when I saw this story about Zimbabwe's Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube being named in an adultery case. More...
July 17, 2007
Billions of Blue Blistering Barnacles, Tintin!
Okay, Africa…you tell me…is the famous comic book character Tintin a racist for the way his illustrator portrays Africans? I've seen many stories out there about this topic. The strange thing is that I haven't seen any interviews with people fro More...
July 8, 2007
Good News in Nigeria
Our prayers have been answered, folks! The little British girl taken hostage in Nigeria has been released by her captors! More...
July 6, 2007
Kidnapping for Money
The abduction of small children in Nigeria for ransom is disturbing to say the least. That a three-year old little British girl would become a commodity to be sold back to her parents is absolutely appalling. I am sure many around the world will pray for More...
July 3, 2007
The Mobile Home Wrecker
I got an e-mail from a lovely Christian lady from the Ivory Coast yesterday. She was asking for prayer that she would be able to get married. It is so tempting to give in to the More...
June 29, 2007
Change in Zimbabwe
First off, I would like to give a shout out to my new friend Bongi from Zimbabwe. He sent me an encouraging e-mail yesterday. Thanks, Bongi! I thought I would return the favor. Here's an update about your home country… More...
June 28, 2007
Snow in Africa!!!
Wow! Can you believe it? Johannesburg, South Africa has snow for the first time in decades! The capital of Pretoria even got a light dusting…and that's the first time in nearly 40 years! Amazing. More...
June 27, 2007
Anyone Want a Million Dollars?
Since I've gotten such a great response from my last blog posting about scams and hoaxes aimed at NGOs, I'll throw out another scam for discussion… More...
June 19, 2007
Hoaxes Preying on the Good Hearted
I love getting feedback from readers of Africa Matters! I always welcome any and all constructive comments from you. More...
June 18, 2007
The Jewish-Sudanese Connection
Hundreds of refugees from Sudan are desperately trying to escape the brutal genocide in Darfur by slipping in to Israel. More...
June 5, 2007
The War on Terror's African Front
This past January, my husband and I went snorkeling off the beautiful coast of Malindi, Kenya. The sparkling clear, blue water reflected the clear, blue sky. More...
May 27, 2007
AFRICA PRAYS!
With so much sad news coming out of the continent of Africa these days, it is my pleasure to bring you a most joyous report… More...
May 15, 2007
UN: Is this a joke?
If this is a joke, few are laughing. Zimbabwe has been chosen to lead the important United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. More...
April 18, 2007
Virginia Tech Tragedy Hits Home
Hokie pride is big in our house. My husband is a graduate of Virginia Tech. We often make pilgrimages on campus for games and alumni events. We both felt sick on Monday as events unfolded on campus. Horrifying detail after horrifying detail came out-each More...
April 10, 2007
"God Hears the Cry of the Oppressed"
On today's CBN News programs, we reported the hyperinflation, the astronomical unemployment rate and other More...
April 2, 2007
GENOCIDE: Sudden vs. Grueling
When I was in Kenya last year, I sat in stunned silence as survivors of the Rwandan genocide told me stories about unspeakable atrocities. More...
March 23, 2007
Christian Children in Nigeria Snatched
The years of religious and political violence in Nigeria seem to have reached a new low...Muslims are stealing Christian children. More...
March 15, 2007
Prayer or Political Rally?
Robert Mugabe's government of Zimbabwe has already been cracking down on Christians. They are viewed as being a part of the opposition party. In recent years, the government has used this as an excuse to arrest many Christian leaders More...
March 13, 2007
Genocide is NOT a Game!
I am racing through the sands of Darfur, desperately trying to reach the bore hole to get some water for my family. Running. Running. I am so very thirsty. My legs are burning, aching from the stress of a sprint under the hot March sun. Suddenly.... More...
March 12, 2007
Mauritania: First Time Voters!
I remember the day I turned 18. My whole family took me down to the city library to be sworn in as a registered voter. More...
March 7, 2007
Somalia: More Than a Shot across the Bow
Tuesday's mortar attack on the African Union peacekeepers from Uganda More...
February 23, 2007
Setting the Captives Free
Be wary of supporting organizations that specifically buy back slaves for money. I personally have been told in the field that some slaves that are More...
February 22, 2007
Making a Bad Situation Worse
I'll never forget Hurricane Isabel in September of 2003. It was horrible! That summer it seemed to rain every single day. The kicker is that Isabel was only a category one storm. The people of Mozambique are facing a similar problem, but on a much, m More...
February 15, 2007
Boy that Rocks the Cradle
The Horn of Africa is well known as the “Cradle of Mankind.” And I must admit, on safari in the Masai Mara of Kenya, I thought surely the Garden of Eden must have looked a little like this. More...
February 5, 2007
The Children of Dadaab
I knew within 10 minutes of getting on the dusty road from the UNHCR compound to the refugee camps that I had made a mistake. More...
February 2, 2007
Missionaries Lives Remembered
Today in Nairobi, the lives of two women were celebrated in memorial services-Lois Anderson and her adult daughter Zelda. They were gunned down in a carjacking last week. More...
January 29, 2007
Soccer Dadaab Style
Kids are kids everywhere you go in the world. Deep down, they all want to play games, run around and laugh the type of laugh that comes when you are safe. More...
January 5, 2007
Al-Qaeda in Somalia No Surprise
The latest call for jihad from Al-Zawahiri should come as no big surprise. Osama bin Laden himself has been calling for holy war in Somalia for quite some time. And why all the sudden gasps from analysts that NOW Al-Qaeda tactics will be imported in to th More...
January 3, 2007
Look Out, Kenya! Jihadists Coming Your Way…
The Islamists can’t escape in to Ethiopia or they would be killed immediately. They can’t go north because Somali government troops have control of that area. That leaves only Kenya or the ocean as a means of escape from the aggressive Somali government. More...
December 28, 2006
Vanished or Plotting?
Whoa! Now you see them…now you don’t. The Islamists seem to have vanished into thin air…abandoning city after city to the Somali government forces, and now including the capital Mogadishu. More...
December 24, 2006
The Prince of Peace
If humanity could not put its hope in Jesus Christ, this world would be a very sad, joyless place indeed. More...
December 22, 2006
Light of Christmas in Africa
Suffice it to say, there are no snowmen or reindeer in Africa during Christmas. For most of the continent, it’s summer time. More...
December 22, 2006
A Deadly Game of Chess
History tells us that often two powerful countries that have a beef with each other will use a weaker neighboring country that’s already mired in conflict to duke it out. More...
December 21, 2006
Somalis to Return to Talks
Both sides in the conflict now say they will return to the negotiating table…that’s good. More...
December 20, 2006
Stormclouds Over Somalia
The uneasy peace between the besieged Somali government and the Islamists was shattered today. More...
December 19, 2006
All Quiet on the Somali Front
The big deadline imposed by the Islamic Courts on the floundering U.S. backed Somali government has come and gone. And, thankfully, things seem pretty quiet. More...
December 18, 2006
The ‘Wild West’ of Africa
Nowadays, most Americans have a hard time thinking of a cow as something other than a hamburger with a side of fries. But even as recently as the 1930s, “cattle rustling”- stealing someone’s cattle-was a serious, criminal offense. More...
December 15, 2006
Africa Matters...
Here you will find Africa Matters…the daily affairs, trends and personal accounts from the continent. And here you will find that Africa Matters…the dire importance of the happenings in that continent- to not just Americans, but the global community. More...
