The U.S.–Africa Leaders Summit held in Washington at the beginning of August did little to advance a mutual agenda among the various parties. There at a great smokescreen event, African leaders smiled widely for the camera while holding the same old grudges toward their American partner. America, of course, remains oblivious to the demands of the African leaders. At least acknowledging their demands is a prerequisite for a long-term mutual and equal partnership.

The Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership awards $5 million to an exceptional African political leader. According to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation website, the requirements for the prize are that the leader is a “former African Executive Head of State or Government” who “left office in the last three years,” was “democratically elected,” “served his/her constitutionally mandated term,” and “demonstrated exceptional leadership.” In addition, the official had to be elected to public office through fair and free elections and must have stepped down at the end of his/her specified term.

In September the Tanzanian government conducted a mostly secret campaign of apprehending illegal immigrants and deporting them to Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda. No questions asked. No legal recourse. Simply “grab and go.”

While defending a new plan introducing tolls between Johannesburg and Pretoria on Oct. 21, South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, said, “We can’t think like Africans in Africa, generally. This is Johannesburg. It’s not some national road in Malawi.”

Since his rise to power in 1989, Omar al-Bashir has been fairly successful at keeping a strong hold on Sudanese politics with limited mass protests against his regime.

Recently, African leaders gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to discuss pressing issues affecting the continent. Two decisions were widely reported by mainstream media. First, the African Union (AU) will request the International Criminal Court (ICC) to defer the trial, due to begin next month, against Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta. The request is based on grounds that Kenya needs Kenyatta in this chaotic time following terrorist attacks at Westgate Mall and that Kenya’s judicial system will deal of its own accord with the 2007–08 riots and prosecute the perpetrators.

I’m growing increasingly frustrated with Western media coverage of the recent terrorist attacks at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi. Pick your poison from any major media outlet.