Children in West Africa still forced into labor and trafficked to make chocolate, report says

WAfrica children still exploited to make chocolate

Nigeria: Feared Muslim sect that launched prison break kills political leader

Nigeria: Muslim sect members kill political leader

Nigerian militant case in S.Africa shows challenges faced by haven for continent’s dissidents

Some who flee to S.Africa are diplomatic challenge

Nigeria: Unknown gunmen kidnap foreign sailors off coast of restive Niger Delta

Nigeria: Foreign sailors kidnapped off Niger Delta

Reported child sex abuse on the rise in Africa amid new helplines, police work and legislation

Kenya sees rise in reports of child sex abuse

6 foreigners kidnapped in Cameroon in September are released, government says

6 foreign hostages freed in Cameroon

YAOUNDE, Cameroon — Six foreigners who were kidnapped off the coast of Cameroon in early September have been released, a government spokesman said Thursday.

Police spokesman says kidnappers have released 15 children taken from school bus in Nigeria

Nigeria: Kidnapped school children released

As many as 40,000 Nigerian girls and women trafficked for sex in W. Africa, officials say

Nigerian: 40,000 trafficked for sex to W. Africa

Police: Kidnappers in Nigeria seize school bus, kidnap 15 children in country’s east

Nigeria kidnappers abduct school children from bus

Kidnappers in Nigeria seize school bus full of children in country’s east, police say

Nigeria kidnappers seize school bus full of kids

Kidnapping of French uranium workers in Niger shows al-Qaida-linked group getting bolder

Niger kidnappings show group getting bolder

French def. min. says kidnapping of 3 French employees from ship off Nigeria looks like piracy

France says Nigeria kidnapping looks like piracy

Pirates attack French marine oil ship off Nigeria, 3 French employees taken hostage

3 French employees kidnapped from ship off Nigeria

French president Sarkozy calls Niger kidnappings ‘worrying,’ pledges to mobilize government

France’s Sarkozy calls Niger kidnappings worrying

Pirates attack French marine services ship off Nigeria, 3 employees taken hostage

3 French employees kidnapped in ship off Nigeria

French minister to meet Malian president as search for 7 kidnapped by al-Qaida continues

French minister in Mali amid hostage standoff

French interior minister leaves for Mali, will discuss hostage-taking in Niger with president

French minister heads to Mali amid hostage crisis

Al-Qaida North Africa branch claims responsibility for kidnapping 5 French in Niger

Al-Qaida claims kidnapping of 5 French in Niger

Togo woman sentenced to 27 years for running forced labor ring at NJ hair braiding salons

Togo woman gets 27 years in NJ forced labor case

French soldiers hunt for kidnapped workers in Niger; Areva acknowledges security ‘breakdowns’

French soldiers hunt for abducted workers in Niger

France’s Areva nuclear company evacuates workers from northern Sahara after Niger kidnappings

Areva evacuates employees after Niger kidnappings

French FM: al-Qaida’s North Africa offshoot may be behind Niger kidnappings of 7 in Sahara

France suspects al-Qaida link in Niger kidnapping

7 people working for Areva nuclear company, including 5 French citizens, kidnapped in Niger

7 people, including 5 French, kidnapped in Niger

French nuclear company Areva says 7 people, including 2 French employees, kidnapped in Niger

France’s Areva says 7 people kidnapped in Niger

Guinean president says ‘republic is in danger’ due to political, ethnic infighting

Guinea president says ‘republic is in danger’

Police: Son of killed Nigerian secret police officer, 3 family members in knife attack

Police: Son killed Nigerian secret police officer

Senegal prisoners abused with beatings, electrocutions, Amnesty International says

Rights group accuses Senegal of prison abuse

Nigeria: Senior officials with secret police, anti-graft squad killed as election draws near

Nigeria: 2 senior security officials killed

Nigeria police arrest suspected Muslim sect members over police killings, prison break

Nigeria: Police arrest suspected sect members

Doubts growing about Sunday election in Guinea, with many voting cards yet to arrive

Doubts growing about Sunday election in Guinea

Man charged with trying to blow up Detroit-bound plane tells judge he wants to represent self

Airline attack suspect wants to represent himself

Man charged with trying to blow up Detroit-bound plane is returning to court; trial may be set

Trial date may be set in Detroit airline attack

Guinea election commission president, planning director charged with fraud before vote

2 Guinea election officials charged with fraud

2 kidnapped Russian sailors released after a month in captivity in Nigeria’s oil-rich delta

Nigeria: 2 kidnapped Russian sailors released

Sex workers in Muslim-dominated Senegal await end of Ramadan after month of slow business

Senegal prostitutes look forward to Ramadan’s end

Nigeria: Coordinated assault on prison shows radical Muslim sect capable of more violence

Sect’s prison attack raises new fears in Nigeria

Police: 800 inmates escape during assault on prison holding Muslim extremists in north Nigeria

Nigeria: 800 inmates escape during prison attack

Authorities say gun battle at Nigerian prison holding suspected Muslim extremists has ended

Nigeria: Assault ends at prison holding extremists

Authorities say gun battle raging at Nigerian prison holding suspected Muslim extremists

Nigeria: Gun battle at prison holding extremists

Possible politically motivated killings, violence hits Nigeria as election looms

Nigeria: Killings, violence come as election looms

Nigeria: Supporter of president, who claims to be son of slain prime minister, kidnapped

Nigeria: Vocal supporter of president kidnapped

Nigeria: Son of former prime minister, now vocal supporter of incumbent president, kidnapped

Nigeria: son of former prime minister kidnapped

Nigeria: Son of organizer of group supporting president’s election bid kidnapped

Nigeria: Son of political dynasty family kidnapped

Targeted police killings in northern Nigeria raise fears of a radical Muslim sect’s return

Nigeria: Targeted police killings raise cult fears

Feared gang leader in Nigeria’s oil-rich and restive delta, who rigged ‘07 vote, believed dead

Nigeria: Feared gang leader believed dead, again

Military: Attacker tries to drive truck with explosives into Mauritanian army barracks

Attacker attempts to blow up Mauritanian barracks

Military: Attacker tries to drive truck with explosives into Mauritanian army barrack

Attacker attempts to blow up Mauritian barracks

Spanish hostages freed by al-Qaida-linked group following prisoner swap, allegations of ransom

Spanish hostages freed by al-Qaida arrive in Spain

Spanish hostages step from helicopter to freedom after 268 days in hands of al-Qaida offshoot

2 Spanish hostages land in Burkina Faso

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — Two Spanish nationals kidnapped nearly nine months ago by an al-Qaida-linked group stepped out of a helicopter to freedom in Burkina Faso’s capital Monday where they were greeted by diplomats.

Spanish aid organization confirms release of its 2 workers kidnapped in Mauritania

Spanish NGO: kidnapped aid workers free

MADRID — A Spanish relief organization has confirmed that two of its workers kidnapped in Mauritania in November have been released.