I occasionally (and not often enough) browse the news at AllAfrica.com, which provides English langauge news from countries all over the African continent. I browse the site to expand my own horizons — I find the exercise particularly useful when I’m obsessing about some happening in my own country that is incredibly important, but about which I can do nothing immeadiate.

It is in that spirit that I offer you this East and Horn of Africa Year in Review. It was indeed a year of mixed fortunes for these regions, from drought to famine to tsunami, with a few grace notes of peace and prosperity. It gives one a bit of perspective.