By Duncan Miriri NAIROBI, Oct 7 (Reuters) - The African Union will launch the continent's first credit rating agency on Wednesday, seeking to provide an alternative to the "big three" global ratings agencies as debt burdens weigh on many African economies.

The East African Rift is a network of valleys that stretches from the Red Sea to Mozambique. Here, we see cultivated fields in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia. (Image credit: LuCaAr via Getty Images) A giant rift is slowly tearing Africa, the second-largest ...

The vision of a "borderless Africa" is one of unity and shared prosperity for the continent. It is rooted in the ideals of the pan-Africanist movement. There are contradictions, however, between those ideals and the realities of governance on the continent.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Check out these facts about Africa that really convey the continent. Pictured: A large family in Burundi. Africa and its vibrant cultures, breathtaking landscapes and unparalleled ...