The DRC has become internationally known for its devastating civil conflicts, the most recent lasting since 1998 and claiming 4 million lives. While isolated fighting continues in the extreme Northeast region, the country is largely at peace...

Functioning under ever-increasing autocracy for decades, Malawi finally became a multi-party democracy in 1994. Free from extremely oppressive leadership, the country’s economy improved and inflation decreased, but this did not eradicate Malawi’s long-time fight against poverty, food shortage, and the AIDS pandemic.

Mozambique is returning to modern existence after the end of its long time civil war. The brutal atrocities carried out by both sides of the conflict drained the country’s people of dignity, safety and stable infrastructure...

Nigeria is Africa’s largest nation. Its people are renowned continent-wide for their drive and energy. Regularly named among the world’s three most corrupt nations and officially one of the world’s top-five petroleum producers, Nigeria bears a mix of lavishly wealthy businessmen alongside millions of poor citizens living in urban slums and undeveloped rural regions...

Since its initial post-apartheid elections in 1994, South Africa has seen rapid development, especially in the badly-neglected, crime-heavy squatter camp areas surrounding the country’s largest cities. Yet rural communities remain heavily underdeveloped, often still lacking clean water, adequate schools and health care...

Swaziland, a tiny country of just over 1 million people completely surrounded by South Africa and the world’s last remaining absolute monarchy, is a largely rural, underdeveloped region. Government control is strong in most areas of society...

Zambia, a completely landlocked country in southern Africa, is renowned for its kind-hearted people and welcoming culture. Though the country has experienced more peace than most African nations, it has not found economic prosperity...

After its 1980 independence, Zimbabwe flourished in the areas of health, education and agriculture—becoming known at its height as “the breadbasket of Africa” because of its major food exports to many African countries...