Torrential rain fell nonstop in Fiji for a week in early January in the most relentless storm to hit the islands in 100 years. With wide areas inundated, 11 people were killed, hundreds of homes and businesses were flooded, and thousands of tourists were trapped in hotels. Western districts, including Nadi, were hardest hit.

Resorts reopened in January, but cleanup continues as does repairs to roads and water, phone and electric lines.

The situation along the border regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda has been deteriorating. The Lords Resistance Army (LRA) stepped up attacks on villages in the DRC, and, since December 2008, rapes, maiming and more than 400 deaths of villagers have been attributed to the rebel group.

Ugandan, Rwandan and Congolese troops have joined in military actions against the guerillas, and the UN peacekeeping force is attempting to coordinate with them.

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The Department of State warns that Côte d’Ivoire continues to experience episodes of political unrest and violence since a failed coup attempt in 2002 evolved into an armed rebellion that split the country in two. Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo and New Forces leader Guillaume Soro signed an agreement in March 2007 and a new government was formed with Soro as Prime Minister, but the political situation has not fully returned to normal.

In December 2007, the city of Bouake experienced...