In This Issue:

- Leading the News

- United States – Africa Relations

- North Africa

- East Africa

- West Africa

- Sub - Saharan Africa

- General Africa News

- Excerpt from Leading the News:

West Africa Ebola Outbreak:

On January 21st, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) published its 17th fact sheet on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The most recent fact sheet highlights that Mali has officially been declared Ebola-free following two 21-day cycles without any new confirmed cases in the country. In addition, the fact sheet noted the opening of a new Ebola treatment unit (ETU) in Liberia’s Lofa County, as well as the reopening of schools in Guinea.

On January 22nd, the United Nations (U.N.) commended Mali for stemming its Ebola outbreak and urged all West African countries that have experienced Ebola cases to remain vigilant. In addition to acknowledging the end of the Ebola outbreak in Mali, the U.N. Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) and the World Health Organization (WHO) announced preparations for a cross-border meeting to be held this week in Liberia to discuss strategies for improving border surveillance and strengthening cross-border notification.