It’s no coincidence that one of the richest men in the Central African Republic is a politician. His name is Fidèle Gouandjika and he was a former Minister of Communications here. He likes to describe himself as “the billionaire of Boy-Rabe”.
Boy-Rabe is the neighbourhood in the Central African capital, Bangui, where Gouandjika grew up and where he now owns a lot of real estate, including a five star hotel. As the former director of the telecommunications company, Socatel, he was involved in a number of scandals. He embezzled money from the business and it ended up in his own pocket. While many people in his country are starving, Gouandjika is happy to be chauffeured around the Bangui streets in his American limousine. Like many other politicians here, he is far too accustomed to abundance.
First a bank spot on the map, then a colony: How Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic.
more
Half of the inhabited Maldivian islands are covered with luxury resorts. The locals live elsewhere.
more
Around 88 percent of those working in Qatar are migrant labourers. Bal Krishna Gautham is one of them.
more
The Professor of political science on education, discrimination and identity.
more
Who's who in the world's poorest and richest nations? We take a look.
more
From breaking taboos to becoming an idol: The first female rally driver in the Arab world recounts how she discovered motor sports and learnt how to assert herself in a male domain.
more
