Africa: Faces in Words

New weekly update on the breaking stories in the African nations.

Nigerian girls are being forced to work as prostitutes in Mali "slave camps", say officials in Nigeria. Courtesy: naijapals.com

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Unseen, unheard; no one should be the bearer of these two words. Unfortunately, Africa is often in the forefront of this association.

Our common humanity should change this; we should never look away because it is too distant. Our commitment to one another, to human rights, and the ability to learn should always keep us connected no matter the severity and complexity of problems.

Important insights from last week, not to be missed:

Nigeria: Thousands of Trafficked Girls found in Mali Slave Camps - Nigerian girls are being forced to work as prostitutes in Mali "slave camps," Nigerian officials say. The girls, many of them underage, are often promised jobs in Europe but end up in brothels, said the government's anti-trafficking agency. allafrica.com/stories/201010041107.html

Angolan families homeless after demolitions - Around 1 500 informal houses were destroyed and families displaced in south-west Angola last month despite a government promise to halt demolitions, a human rights activist told reporters on Monday. iol.co.za/news/africa/angolan-families-homeless-after-demolitions-1.683663

UN warns of global refugee crisis - Conflicts are leading to new era of near permanent refugee populations, the head of the United Nation's refugee agency said. Yet rich countries are only willing to take a fraction of those driven forced to flee by drawn-out warfare – especially when it comes to refugees from Afghanistan or Somalia. medeshivalley.com/2010/10/un-warns-of-global-refugee-crisis.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+medeshivalley/JLIj+(Medeshivalley.com)

Fate of Millions Hangs on Global Fund Pledges - Sibongile Mavimbela has been living with HIV for the past 12 years; she has been on antiretrovirals for the past seven. But the mother of two fears the supply of free ARVs could dry up in the near future if contributions to the Global Fund on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria fall short of the $20 billion needed to meet development targets. allafrica.com/stories/201010050936.html

Kyangwali refugee camp: Between hope and despair - Soon after I arrived in Uganda, I had the opportunity to visit Kyangwali Refugee Camp in Hoima district, western Uganda. COBURWAS, a partner organization of Educate where I work, is based in the camp. The journey from Hoima district town to Kyangwali takes over four stressful hours on dirty bumpy roads. independent.co.ug/index.php/features/features/42-features/3516-kyangwali-refugee-camp-between-hope-and-despair

West Africa: Hundreds working as Slaves in Fishing Vessels - Hundreds of people are working in modern-day slavery on illegal fishing vessels off the coast of west Africa, according to a report by the Environmental Justice Foundation.

Kenya: Religious Ortrage over Minister’s Support of Gay Rights - A Kenyan cabinet minister who called for greater acceptance of gays by society has been accused of promoting 'un-African' acts and asked to resign. allafrica.com/stories/201010060715.html

Kenya: 500 Teachers Sent Home for Impregnating Pupils - More than 500 teachers have been dismissed after being implicated with impregnating girls in primary schools, the Teachers Service Commission has said. The revelation by the TSC chairman Ibrahim Hussein Wednesday also puts teachers on notice that besides losing their jobs they will also face criminal proceedings in courts after the Commission moved to involve the police. allafrica.com/stories/201010060862.html

Nigeria: Lead Poisoning Kills 400 children - Lead poisoning has killed 400 children under five over the past six months in Northern Nigeria, according to international humanitarian group Medecins sans Frontieres, saying that the number of fatalities could increase. allafrica.com/stories/201010060930.html

Somali Militants Using Children as Suicide Bombers - Somalia's al Qaeda-inspired al Shabab militants have in recent weeks resorted to abducting children to serve as fighters and suicide bombers, an African Union military spokesman said Thursday. medeshivalley.com/2010/10/somali-militants-using-children-as.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+medeshivalley/JLIj+(Medeshivalley.com)