50 years after African independence, Europe’s colonial past makes headlines in The World This Week. François Picard’s panel argues over the long-term consequences of French intervention in Ivory Coast and whether it’s right to charge the current UK government for atrocities committed in the 1950s during Kenya’s Mau Mau rebellion.
In Sudan, the head of the Islamist opposition Hassan al-Tourabi has been arrested after he called for a Tunisia-style uprising. Nigerian leader Goodluck Jonathan wins his party's nomination for president ahead of April's elections. And a book about a forgotten war: "Kamerun!" tells the story of a 15-year-long struggle against French colonial rule.
The two French lawyers providing legal advice to Ivorian strongman Laurent Gbagbo claim to be battling French neo-colonialism. But Ivory Coast expert Vincent Hugeux argues that their true motivations have more to do with reputation and money.
Leading international academics and authors have written an open letter to France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, urging him to repay a €17 billion "independence debt" imposed on Haiti two centuries ago.
Troops from 13 African nations marched in Paris Wednesday at the annual Bastille Day celebrations, marking half a century of independence from colonial rule. Their participation has drawn fire from human rights and pressure groups.
Soldiers from 13 former French African colonies will march down the Champs Elysées in Paris on July 14 as part of France’s Bastille Day celebrations. However, human rights groups are concerned that some of the soldiers involved may be war criminals.
The invitation of 12 leaders of former French colonies in Africa to a lunch at the Elysée Palace on the eve of the July 14 celebrations has led to accusations that France has failed to move on from its post-colonial relationship with the continent.
In this edition: Algerian movies are in the spotlight at the Cannes film festival, and one of them is causing controversy; North Africa's biggest port is now up and running in Tangier; and Fifa punishes Egypt for last year's violent attack on Algeria's football team.
In this edition: politicians in Algeria are seeking to outlaw colonialism - and want to see French colonial rulers in the dock; 50 years after France's first nuclear tests in the Sahara, locals say radiation is still posing problems; and what do you get if you mix Mauritanian music with jazz and hip hop? One artist has been developing a unique sound.
