"Gallery" (by Rick Valenzuela)

A man rinses woven trays in the Niger River in Mali's capial, Bamako, on Saturday morning, April 28, 2007. Mali, twice the size of France, is one of the world's poorest countries, ranking 175 out of 177 in the United Nations Development Program's human development report. Eight candidates including one woman and the current head of state, Amadou Toumani Toure, are seeking the next five-year presidential term in Sunday's election. More than 1,000 international observers will monitor the elections in the shadow of last week's flawed polls in Nigeria.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:34:57 +0000

A man rinses woven trays in the Niger River in Mali's capial, Bamako, on Saturday morning, April 28, 2007. Mali, twice the size of France, is one of the world's poorest countries, ranking 175 out of 177 in the United Nations Development Program's human development report. Eight candidates including one woman and the current head of state, Amadou Toumani Toure, are seeking the next five-year presidential term in Sunday's election. More than 1,000 international observers will monitor the elections in the shadow of last week's flawed polls in Nigeria.
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A man dries out woven trays after washing them in the Niger River in Mali's capial, Bamako, on Saturday morning, April 28, 2007. Mali, twice the size of France, is one of the world's poorest countries, ranking 175 out of 177 in the United Nations Development Program's human development report. Eight candidates including one woman and the current head of state, Amadou Toumani Toure, are seeking the next five-year presidential term in Sunday's election. More than 1,000 international observers will monitor the elections in the shadow of last week's flawed polls in Nigeria.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:34:57 +0000

A man dries out woven trays after washing them in the Niger River in Mali's capial, Bamako, on Saturday morning, April 28, 2007. Mali, twice the size of France, is one of the world's poorest countries, ranking 175 out of 177 in the United Nations Development Program's human development report. Eight candidates including one woman and the current head of state, Amadou Toumani Toure, are seeking the next five-year presidential term in Sunday's election. More than 1,000 international observers will monitor the elections in the shadow of last week's flawed polls in Nigeria.
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Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade, 80, waits to address supporters at a re-election campaign rally in the city of his birth, Kebemer, on Monday, Feb. 12, 2007. Wade, who has held the presidency since 2000, is seeking a second term in a general election against 14 other candidates scheduled for Feb. 25.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:34:57 +0000

Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade, 80, waits to address supporters at a re-election campaign rally in the city of his birth, Kebemer, on Monday, Feb. 12, 2007. Wade, who has held the presidency since 2000, is seeking a second term in a general election against 14 other candidates scheduled for Feb. 25.
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Former Prime Minister and opposition presidential candidate Idrissa Seck addresses supporters at a rally in Dakar, Senegal, on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007, the first day of campaigning for the Feb. 25 election.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:34:57 +0000

Former Prime Minister and opposition presidential candidate Idrissa Seck addresses supporters at a rally in Dakar, Senegal, on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007, the first day of campaigning for the Feb. 25 election.
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Senegalese police beat and arrest opposition protesters in Dakar, Senegal, on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, ahead of the official beginning of the presidential campaign period. Police detained three opposition candidates: Ousmane Tanor Dieng, secretary general of the former ruling Socialist Party; former prime minister Moustapha Niasse; and another opposition party leader, Abdoulaye Bathily. Opposition leaders and protesters at the rally said they were unhappy with the government of President Abdoulaye Wade, who is standing for re-election in polls scheduled for next month.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:34:57 +0000

Senegalese police beat and arrest opposition protesters in Dakar, Senegal, on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, ahead of the official beginning of the presidential campaign period. Police detained three opposition candidates: Ousmane Tanor Dieng, secretary general of the former ruling Socialist Party; former prime minister Moustapha Niasse; and another opposition party leader, Abdoulaye Bathily. Opposition leaders and protesters at the rally said they were unhappy with the government of President Abdoulaye Wade, who is standing for re-election in polls scheduled for next month.
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Voters queue around the Senegalese national symbol, the Baobab trree, to cast ballots in the presidential election at the Ecole Djaraf Ibra Paye in the capital, Dakar, on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007. President Abdoulaye Wade, 80, is seeking a second term in a field of 15 candidates.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:34:57 +0000

Voters queue around the Senegalese national symbol, the Baobab trree, to cast ballots in the presidential election at the Ecole Djaraf Ibra Paye in the capital, Dakar, on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007. President Abdoulaye Wade, 80, is seeking a second term in a field of 15 candidates.
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Antoine Sylla bails over a wave at the Ouakam surf spot in Dakar, the Senegalese capital, on Monday, Nov. 27, 2006. Sylla, a surf instructor, tracked this surf swell online for weeks as it worked its way south from Wales to Ouakam, a spot that is only surfable a couple of weeks each year.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:34:57 +0000

Antoine Sylla bails over a wave at the Ouakam surf spot in Dakar, the Senegalese capital, on Monday, Nov. 27, 2006. Sylla, a surf instructor, tracked this surf swell online for weeks as it worked its way south from Wales to Ouakam, a spot that is only surfable a couple of weeks each year.
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Gambian President Yahya Jammeh (right) and Health Minister Dr. Tamsir Mbowe rub Jammeh's alternative medicine treatment for HIV/AIDS sufferers on Lamine Ceesay, 40, at the president's statehouse ground in the capital, Banjul, on Thursday, Feb 15. 2007. Jammeh said last month he had begun treating 10 patients with secret herbal ingredients that will cure them of HIV/AIDS. His health minister backs his claims, saying that in trials so far patients had gained weight and physically improved.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:34:57 +0000

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh (right) and Health Minister Dr. Tamsir Mbowe rub Jammeh's alternative medicine treatment for HIV/AIDS sufferers on Lamine Ceesay, 40, at the president's statehouse ground in the capital, Banjul, on Thursday, Feb 15. 2007. Jammeh said last month he had begun treating 10 patients with secret herbal ingredients that will cure them of HIV/AIDS. His health minister backs his claims, saying that in trials so far patients had gained weight and physically improved.
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Voters line up to cast ballots in the French presidential election at the embassy on Sunday, April 22, 2007, in Dakar, Senegal, the birthplace of Socialist Party candidate and assemblywoman Marie-SŽgolne Royal.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:34:57 +0000

Voters line up to cast ballots in the French presidential election at the embassy on Sunday, April 22, 2007, in Dakar, Senegal, the birthplace of Socialist Party candidate and assemblywoman Marie-SŽgolne Royal.
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An election worker tallies a vote for Mali's popular incumbent President Amadou Toumani Toure, known by his initials ATT, after polls closed in the l’école de Quinzambougou, in the capital, Bamako, on Sunday, April 29, 2007. Mali, twice the size of France, is one of the world's poorest countries ranking 175 out of 177 in the United Nations Development Program's human development report. Eight candidates including one woman are running for president. More than 1,000 international observers are monitoring the elections in the shadow of last week's flawed polls in Nigeria.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:34:57 +0000

An election worker tallies a vote for Mali's popular incumbent President Amadou Toumani Toure, known by his initials ATT, after polls closed in the l’école de Quinzambougou, in the capital, Bamako, on Sunday, April 29, 2007. Mali, twice the size of France, is one of the world's poorest countries ranking 175 out of 177 in the United Nations Development Program's human development report. Eight candidates including one woman are running for president. More than 1,000 international observers are monitoring the elections in the shadow of last week's flawed polls in Nigeria.
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Mali's incumbent President Amadou Toumani Toure casts his ballot at the Ecole Fundamentale de l'ex Base Aerienne in the capital, Bamako, on Sunday, April 29, 2007. Mali, twice the size of France, is one of the world's poorest countries ranking 175 out of 177 in the United Nations Development Program's human development report. Eight candidates including one woman are seeking the next five-year presidential term. More than 1,000 international observers will monitor the elections in the shadow of last week's flawed polls in Nigeria.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:34:57 +0000

Mali's incumbent President Amadou Toumani Toure casts his ballot at the Ecole Fundamentale de l'ex Base Aerienne in the capital, Bamako, on Sunday, April 29, 2007. Mali, twice the size of France, is one of the world's poorest countries ranking 175 out of 177 in the United Nations Development Program's human development report. Eight candidates including one woman are seeking the next five-year presidential term. More than 1,000 international observers will monitor the elections in the shadow of last week's flawed polls in Nigeria.
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A man holds onto the rusty railing of a dilapidated bridge in Saint-Louis, Senegal, on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007. While the famous colonial-era Faidherbe Bridge across town undergoes a $27 million renovation, with $17 million from France, several other bridges in Saint-Louis fall into disrepair.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:34:57 +0000

A man holds onto the rusty railing of a dilapidated bridge in Saint-Louis, Senegal, on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007. While the famous colonial-era Faidherbe Bridge across town undergoes a $27 million renovation, with $17 million from France, several other bridges in Saint-Louis fall into disrepair.
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Wu Say helps a customer select fabric in a store selling Chinese imports in a the Plateau neighborhood of Dakar, Senegal, on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007. Wu immigrated to West Africa two months ago with her brother, she said, following family members who have run stores for five years in this mainly Chinese-owned market strip on one of the neighborhood's poorer blocks.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:34:57 +0000

Wu Say helps a customer select fabric in a store selling Chinese imports in a the Plateau neighborhood of Dakar, Senegal, on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007. Wu immigrated to West Africa two months ago with her brother, she said, following family members who have run stores for five years in this mainly Chinese-owned market strip on one of the neighborhood's poorer blocks.
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Urban cowboys play Johnny Cash at the Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok, Thailand.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:34:57 +0000

Urban cowboys play Johnny Cash at the Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok, Thailand.
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Musicians and concertgoers rest on an abandoned construction rig at a punk show at an outdoor bar in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Saturday, March 4, 2006.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:34:57 +0000

Musicians and concertgoers rest on an abandoned construction rig at a punk show at an outdoor bar in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Saturday, March 4, 2006.
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Vang, a 15-year-old student at the Tiny Toones breakdance school who also goes by the name Cosmo, performs at the River House Lounge in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Friday, Aug. 25, 2006. Sobil "KK" Tuy, a Cambodian former gangster deported from Long Beach, Calif., receives NGO funding to teach breakdancing to local children such as Cosmo, who said he's been going to the studio for one year.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:34:57 +0000

Vang, a 15-year-old student at the Tiny Toones breakdance school who also goes by the name Cosmo, performs at the River House Lounge in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Friday, Aug. 25, 2006. Sobil "KK" Tuy, a Cambodian former gangster deported from Long Beach, Calif., receives NGO funding to teach breakdancing to local children such as Cosmo, who said he's been going to the studio for one year.
view full-size image

"Gallery" (by Rick Valenzuela)

Former Prime Minister and opposition presidential candidate Idrissa Seck addresses supporters at a rally in Dakar, Senegal, on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007, the first day of campaigning for the Feb. 25 election.

Voters queue around the Senegalese national symbol, the Baobab trree, to cast ballots in the presidential election at the Ecole Djaraf Ibra Paye in the capital, Dakar, on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007. President Abdoulaye Wade, 80, is seeking a second term in a field of 15 candidates.

Antoine Sylla bails over a wave at the Ouakam surf spot in Dakar, the Senegalese capital, on Monday, Nov. 27, 2006. Sylla, a surf instructor, tracked this surf swell online for weeks as it worked its way south from Wales to Ouakam, a spot that is only surfable a couple of weeks each year.

Voters line up to cast ballots in the French presidential election at the embassy on Sunday, April 22, 2007, in Dakar, Senegal, the birthplace of Socialist Party candidate and assemblywoman Marie-SŽgolne Royal.

A man holds onto the rusty railing of a dilapidated bridge in Saint-Louis, Senegal, on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007. While the famous colonial-era Faidherbe Bridge across town undergoes a $27 million renovation, with $17 million from France, several other bridges in Saint-Louis fall into disrepair.

Urban cowboys play Johnny Cash at the Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok, Thailand.

Musicians and concertgoers rest on an abandoned construction rig at a punk show at an outdoor bar in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Saturday, March 4, 2006.

Voters line up to cast ballots in the French presidential election at the embassy on Sunday, April 22, 2007, in Dakar, Senegal, the birthplace of Socialist Party candidate and assemblywoman Marie-SŽgolne Royal.