Despite the bold talk about South Sudan, there is little prospect of accountability.

Many women and babies still die during childbirth across Africa despite progress in some countries.

Declining global oil prices and a tumbling naira are threatening Nigeria's income from exports and remittances. Whoever takes office as president in Abuja, and in the 28 states electing new governors, on 14 February, will need to address this shortfall in government revenue. Fortunately, they need look no further than Lagos, the country's commercial capital.

If ever there was a time for a unity march against terror, it is now in Nigeria in the election season.

The fact that Charlie Hebdo won't make cartoons about the Holocaust nor would an American director joke about the assassination of his President shows that as sacred as freedom of expression may be it still has its limits.

The man who got on a Parisian bus with me Wednesday was an Arab who had not shaven in four days. He had dark olive skin and kinky black hair and was visibly unbalanced: drugs? He sang to a popular tune "I'm going on Jihad. Won't you come on Jihad with me too?" He risks five years in prison and a 75 thousand euro fine.