Rwanda is one of the sub-Saharan African nations most affected by the dreaded HIV/AIDS epidemic that is killing millions of African citizens. Of the eight million people in Rwanda, approximately 400,000 are affected with the virus. President Paul Kagame has made strides since his election in 2000 to helping those within his nation who have AIDS as well as working to prevent HIV infections. Kagame has been lauded by many in the international community for the strides he is taking in trying to combat this world-wide epidemic.

The Southern African nation of Botswana has the fastest growing economy in the world for more than 30 years. After attaining independence in 1966, the country went from being one of the poorest countries in the world to an upper income country. During the period from 1966 to 1999, the economic growth was about nine percent per year. Through the years, the government of Botswana has good financial policies and incurred low foreign debt. Most of the revenue in Botswana is derived from the diamond mines.

Africa can help Africa more than all of the other nations and organizations in the world. Although many international organizations have stepped in to assist the continent in recent years and have put in effort in trying to reduce poverty, funding school systems, instituting vaccination programs to combat various illnesses and providing food and clean water to those in blighted areas, Africa can help Africa simply by banding together as one nation to conquer all of the problems facing the continent today.

Niger is the poorest country in the world. The country is located in Western Africa and received its independence from France in the 1960s. The people in the country are referred to as Nigeriens, not to be confused with Nigerians from Nigeria.

Niger was once called the Songhai Empire. When European explorers began entering Africa in the late 18th century, many colonized the different nations. Niger became a French colony in 1922 and the national language of Niger is French. Niger became an independent state in 1960.