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 October 16th, European Union (E.U.) health ministers met in Brussels, Belgium, to discuss ways to strengthen Europe against the Ebola threat. While the group reached consensus on the need to improve the systems in place in West Africa to screen travelers for Ebola, there was a lack of agreement on screening procedures for passengers arriving in Europe. France, the United Kingdom (U.K.), and the Czech Republic have implemented enhanced screening measures for travelers arriving from West Africa. Meanwhile, Belgium and other countries continue to believe that regulations do not require more stringent screening measures.

On October 16th, in response to growing pressure for the White House to name an Ebola czar, U.S. President Barack Obama indicated it might be appropriate to designate a single individual to coordinate the Administration’s Ebola response efforts. In addition, President Obama said he was not philosophically opposed to a travel ban from the Ebola-stricken region of West Africa if it would keep Americans safe, but expressed his believe that a travel ban could be counterproductive.