The giant bought low by tall tales
Published in The Observer (August 19th, 2012) Ryszard Kapuscinski: A Life by Arthur Domolawski (Verso) The tale of Lulu, Haile... Read Full Article
Africa’s Afghanistan
Published in The Spectator (July 13th, 2012) For centuries, the people of Timbuktu have sought guidance from their Sufi saints.... Read Full Article
African village where every household is getting £7,500 from British taxpayers spent on them
Published in The Daily Mail (June 30th, 2012) As I drew up in the bustling village after a long journey,... Read Full Article
Bob Geldof’s obsession with aid hurt Africa. But now trade is healing the scars
Published in The Independent (May 28th, 2012) I first became aware of Bob Geldof in 1977 when I bought the... Read Full Article
Like Afghanistan, Mali is a victim of our ‘war on terror’
Published in The Independent (May 23rd, 2012) So now we know that Nato will bring its misguided campaign in Afghanistan... Read Full Article
A warning shot to the world’s despots
Published in The Independent (April 27th, 2012) The evidence was gruesome. One witness told how he watched his sister being... Read Full Article
Accidental coup has undone decades of steady progress
Published in The Independent (April 7th, 2012) Arriving in Timbuktu after a long, hot journey across the Sahara, you come... Read Full Article
Unesco’s latest attempt to give out dictator’s $3m prize delayed by lawyers
Published in The Guardian (March 5th, 2012) The latest attempt to award a controversial $3m UNESCO prize given by Africa’s longest-ruling dictator... Read Full Article
This grave desecration does not mean Libya is out of control
Originally posted in The Guardian (March 5th, 2012) The morning had been spent dodging Muammar Gaddafi’s security stooges and talking... Read Full Article
Disorder, dereliction…and decency
Published in The Observer (January 29th, 2012) Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria by Noo Saro-Wira (Granta) Nigeria does not... Read Full Article