From Agence France-Presse:
African governments are nervously confronting a mounting wave of often deadly social unrest caused by the soaring cost of food and fuel.
Forty people died during price riots in Cameroon in February, there has also been deadly troubles in Ivory Coast and Mauritania and other violent demonstrations in Senegal and Burkina Faso -- where a nationwide strike against price rises is to start Tuesday.
Governments across the continent -- where the crisis ranges from Zimbabwe's 100,000 percent inflation to Morocco, where subsidies for key commodities have grown fivefold over six years -- are becoming anxious about public anger.
The rise in international food prices "poses significant threats to Africa's growth, peace and security," African finance ministers warned in a statement at the end of a meeting in Addis Ababa last week to discuss the crisis.
There have already been demonstrations in Burkina Faso where a nationwide strike against the price of food is due to start Tuesday, despite a government promise of action to help the worst off....MORE
