• Joe Penney

    About Joe Penney

    Joe Penney is a writer and photographer based in Dakar, Senegal. His photos have been published by Le Monde, Newsweek (Africa edition), Reuters, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and Jeune Afrique. His articles have appeared on CNN online, Al Jazeera and in Montreal newspapers. He has photographed presidential elections in Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria and Senegal and the 2012 coup in Mali. Penney graduated from McGill University in Montreal. To view his photos, go to joepenney.tumblr.com and joepenney.com.

     

    A West African Coup’s Potential Ripple Effects

    by  • May 16, 2012 • Africa, Security Council • 0 Comments

    Guinea-Bissau army

    DAKAR, Senegal — The fate of Guinea-Bissau hangs on precariously as regional and international bodies involved in resolving the country’s post-coup crisis, which forestalled a presidential run-off vote, disagree about pace and tactics. The complications from the coup and another recent government overthrow, in Mali, have created unease throughout West Africa, possibly the last place [...]

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    A Transition in Sight for Mali

    by  • April 9, 2012 • Africa, Refugees • 0 Comments

    mali

    BAMAKO, Mali — The junta that upended the country here on March 22 has agreed to hand over power to Dioncounda Traore, the president of the National Assembly, in the next few days. Mali was set to hold a presidential election on April 29 before a junior military officer and his entourage ousted the president, [...]

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    In Tiny Guinea-Bissau, Ruthless Politics and Cool Refrain

    by  • March 30, 2012 • Africa, Security Council • 3 Comments

    Bissau port

    BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau — Guinea-Bissau’s presidential election on March 18 and the shooting of the country’s former military intelligence that evening caught the world’s attention briefly, as rumors of a coup festered. So far, that has not happened. Since then, more prominent West African nations have snagged international attention: the presidential election run-off in Senegal, in [...]

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    Tensions in Senegal Raise the Heat in the Region

    by  • February 9, 2012 • Africa • 2 Comments

    In Dakar, men pray during prayers held by a political coalition after the deaths of antigovernment protesters recently in the capital. The country is expected to hold a presidential election on Feb. 26. PHOTO BY JOE PENNEY

    DAKAR, Senegal — Senegal has always been praised as the most secure country in West Africa since its independence in 1960 from France. Its capital, Dakar, perched on the western edge of the Atlantic coastline, is a city of very rich and very poor, mosques and outdoor athletic fields, hawkers and cultural aficionados. A highway [...]

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