television reports around the world show Africa as a continent wit
ey focus on the wars, the starving children, the terrible diseases, a
other more positive aspects of life in Africa are rarely shown
ed, serious problems in many parts of Africa, The biggest problem
e continuing threat of wars. These wars are part due to historic
g tribes. However, in the past, the fighting was local and small scale
become far more violent and destructive. This is partly because of
t modern weapons. It is also because the situation has changed
sixteenth century, European powers began to move into Africa. The
e to sell as slaves in North and South America, They also took any
they could find, such as ivory, gold, or diamonds
In the nineteen
ean rulers divided up the continent into countries. They did not
about African tribal traditions, and so the borders of these countries
tional borders of tribal lands
tries of Africa became independent in the twentieth century, there
ent tribes in a country, and each tribe wanted to rule. The result wa
a. In
many countries, the civil wars have been going on to decade
t to control ot the government, Governing means having not on
ing access to wealth-and one of the few wavs out of a lite of pove
as also meant having control over international
aid and, therefore
nes starvation