Pick up your phone and call a friend in Africa, learn ow to Dial International Long-Distance Calls to Africa from the United States.

Everyone in the United States of America knows when you want to dial a long distance phone number from Florida to New York you must dial a 1 then the area code then the seven digit phone number, this is called the North American Numbering Plan. AT and T developed the North American Numbering Plan in 1947 to simplify and facilitate direct dialing of long distance calls.

Implementation of the plan began in 1951. The North American Numbering Plan is an integrated telephone numbering plan serving 20 North American countries that share its resources. These countries include the United States and its territories, Canada, Bermuda, Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Sint Maarten, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos.

Calling an African country is a little different. Let's say you want to call your daughter in Kenya and you are in California, for those international calls to most countries dial 011 then the Kenyan country code which is 254 then the phone number.

Don't be surprised if the number you are trying to call has more or less than three plus seven digits, unlike the U.S. which has a standard number of seven as a phone number. Calling your son who is studying at the University of Cape Town? Then dial the International Access Code 011 plus the Country Code 27 plus the Local Phone Number 0216504400

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List of African international dialing codes also called country codes, listed by country and how to call long-distance to any country in Africa.

African County	Country Code
Algeria	213
Angola	244
Benin	229
Botswana	267
Burkina Faso	226
Burundi	257
Cameroon	237
Cape Verde	238
Chad	235
Côte d'Ivoire	225
Djibouti	253
Egypt	20
Equatorial Guinea	240
Eritrea	291
eSwatini	268
Ethiopia	251
Gabon	241
Ghana	233
Guinea	224
Guinea-Bissau	245
Kenya	254
Lesotho	266
Liberia	231
Libya	218
Madagascar	261
Malawi	265
Mali	223
Mauritania	222
Mauritius	230
Morocco	212
Mozambique	258
Namibia	264
Niger	227
Nigeria	234
Republic of the Congo	242
Rwanda	250
São Tomé and Príncipe	239
Senegal	221
Seychelles	248
Sierra Leone	232
Somalia	252
South Africa	27
South Sudan	211
Sudan	249
Tanzania	255
The Central African Republic	236
The Democratic Republic of the Congo	243
The Gambia	220
Togo	228
Tunisia	216
Uganda	256
Zambia	260
Zimbabwe	263

Calling the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Rwanda to find out what time the museum opens? Then dial the International Access Code 011 plus the Country Code 250 plus the Local Phone Number 784 651 051. Calling the Choithram Hospital at Hill Station, Freetown, in Sierra Leone to find out if the endoscopist Dr. Finda Ngongou is still works there? Then dial the International Access Code 011 plus the Country Code 232 plus the Local Phone Number 76 980000. The complete listing of every country code in the world can be accessed here.

Together we build awareness that boost harmony, education, and success, below are more links to articles you will find thought provoking.

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Make Real Tea With Natural Tea Ingredients

Need a hot tea recipe? Learn how to brew flavorful, natural teas with whole herbs and fruits — no mystery tea bags required. 

What’s in your store-bought tea bags?
Most commercial tea bags contain finely ground tea dust or fannings rather than whole herbs, fruits, or flowers. Bags are often made of paper or food-grade plastic. For a richer, healthier cup, brew tea from fresh, whole ingredients.

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Tamarind Ginger Tea

Tamarind fruit is loved across Africa and the Caribbean for its tangy pulp — perfect for a warming, soothing tea. For a flavorful homemade blend, try our Tamarind Ginger Tea recipe.

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African Bush Tea

Made with indigenous African herbs, African Bush Tea has been used for generations as a healing drink and daily tonic.

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Papaya Seed Tea

Papaya seeds have a peppery taste and are used to brew Papaya Seed Tea — an unexpected and bold African twist.

Did You Know? Most commercial tea bags contain broken tea leaves called “fannings” or “dust.” Whole-leaf tea brews a richer flavor and retains more antioxidants.Discover traditional brews like African Bush Tea used for herbal healing.

Get Good Hot Spice Tea

Ingredients:
2 cups water
½ tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp honey

Directions:
Bring water to a boil; add turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon. Simmer 10 minutes. Strain, sweeten with honey, and add lemon if desired.

For something bold and unique, check out Papaya Seed Tea, a peppery, African-inspired brew.

Learn More About African Teas and Ingredients

• Ethiopian White Honey
• Sierra Leone Ginger Cake Recipe
• Seed Micro-Gardening Mother Africa

The classic way of frying a chicken is the best way to fry squabs. 

Although by this method a lot of grease is needed in which to fry the birds, they are not at all greasy when cooked if the grease is kept hot.

Fried buttermilk squab recipe to explore delicious squab regional cuisine of Africa and make authentic squab recipe at home.

But first...

What is a squab?

Squabs are young pigeons and are usually expensive as they are considered a delicacy to eat. The birds are very small, the meat is delicate, as their bones are tiny. After the egg has been incubated for seventeen days, the squab lies in the nest for four weeks and in that, time puts on fat, which for lack of exercise is exceptionally tender.

The squab, until it is four weeks old, stays in the nest, and is fed with seeds and beans, and kept as fat as possible. The vegetable protein in the seeds is changed to animal protein in the squabs. They are ready for market when four weeks old.

In Egypt squab meat is considered a delicacy

Ancient Egyptians began using young pigeons (squabs) for ceremonial and culinary purposes at least 4000 years ago. Squabs should be more freely consumed, and idea of eating squabs would be most appetizing to the American diet. A great variety of dishes may be prepared with squabs and one will never tire of their delicious flavor and tender dark meat. One great recipe is fried squab.

Where to buy squabs?

Order domestic squabs online making sure they are all-natural raised with no antibiotics or hormones. Squabs weigh on average around 16 to 18 ounces or around 1 pound each.

Fried Buttermilk Squab Recipe

Ingredients
6 cleaned and cut-up squabs
2 cups buttermilk
1 teaspoon sea-salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
Vegetable oil for frying
3 cups all-purpose flour

Directions
In a large bowl or re-sealable plastic bag, add squab and buttermilk and refrigerate 1 hour. In another re-sealable plastic bag, combine flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder and black pepper. Shake to mix well.

Move one piece of squab at a time from the marinade into flour mixture. Shake well to coat completely. Place on rack and continue with remaining squab. Heat 1-inch vegetable oil in large deep skillet over medium-high heat until deep-fry thermometer registers between 350°F and 375°F.

Fry squab a few pieces at a time so oil does not cool down. Turn squab to brown evenly, remove when golden, and cooked through. Wings should take 10 to 15 minutes, drumsticks 15 to 20 minutes, breasts and thighs 20 to 25 minutes.

Squab is done when meat thermometer inserted in center reaches 170°F. Drain on wire rack to keep squab crispy. Serve hot or cool squab to room temperature. Place it in a sealed container and refrigerate to enjoy the next day.

Food recipe Squabs are young pigeons and are usually expensive as they are considered a delicacy to eat.

Three economical easy lunch and dinner recipes to make right now so you never have to eat or prepare a boring meal again.

1. Yedoro Stir Fried Ethiopian Chicken Dinner
2. Caldo Verde Portuguese Kale Soup
3. Air Fryer Black Eyed Pea Dumpling Stew

African geography, language, and history and see how well do you know Africa.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, is in northeastern Tanzania. Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa and one of only two mountains on the continent that has glaciers the other is Mount Kenya.

The official language of Angola is Portuguese. Portuguese is spoken in a number of African countries and is the official language in six African states: Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cabo Verde (Cape Verde), São Tomé and Príncipe and Equatorial Guinea. Many Africans speak Portuguese as a second language.

Ngorongoro crater is the largest unbroken caldera in the world. The crater, together with the Olmoti and Empakaai craters are part of the eastern Rift Valley, whose volcanism dates back to the late Mesozoic to the early Tertiary periods and is famous for its geology. The property also includes Laetoli and Olduvai Gorge, which contain an important paleontological record related to human evolution.

The American Colonization Society sent its first group of immigrants to Sherbro Island in Sierra Leone. The island's swampy, unhealthy conditions resulted in a high death rate among the settlers as well as the society's representatives. The British governor allowed the immigrants to relocate to a safer area temporarily while the ACS worked to save its colonization project from complete disaster.

Mountainous with coastline of just 209 meters Sao Tome and Principe is the second smallest country in Africa, the island of Seychelles is the smallest African country over all.

Madagascar is the 4th large island in the world and is located in the Indian Ocean supporting a unique biota; about 90% of its plants and animals are found nowhere else on earth.

The seven Natural Wonders of Africa are Mount Kilimanjaro, The Red Sea Reef, Okavango Delta, Sahara Desert, The Nile River, Serengeti Migration and Ngorongoro Crater. Three of the seven natural wonders of Africa are in Tanzania.

The wild watermelon is widely distributed in Africa, a bitter tasting fruit with hard light green flesh is not your typical sweet summer fruit. Wild watermelon egusi seeds are fat and protein-rich seeds of a cucurbitaceous plant used in preparing egusi soup - a kind of soup thickened with the ground egusi seeds cooked with water, oil and typically containing vegetables, seasonings and meat which is popular in many West and Central African countries.

Yellow passion fruit is one of Kenya Africa top three export fruit crops important to Kenya and Africa agricultural future well-being. Agriculture is the backbone of the Kenyan economy, contributing one-third of GDP. Approximately 75 percent of the Kenyan population work at least part-time in the agricultural sector, including growing and picking passion fruit which over 75 percent of agricultural output is from small-scale, rain-fed farming.

Africa has more countries affected by displacement than any other region and is home 9 - 12 million internally displaced people (IDPs). IDPs are displaced within their own country as a result of conflict, violence, disasters and human rights abuses.

Credonia Mwerinde: The Ugandan Cult Leader Behind History's Worst Religious Mass Murder

In March 2000, a horrific event unfolded in Uganda that would become the deadliest religious cult massacre in recorded history. At the center of this tragedy was Credonia Mwerinde, a woman whose leadership of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments resulted in the deaths of over 900 followers.

The 2000 Kanungu massacre remains the deadliest religious cult incident in history

Key Facts: The Kanungu Massacre

Date: March 17, 2000

Location: Kanungu, Uganda

Death Toll: 924 confirmed victims

Cult Name: Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments

Leader: Credonia Mwerinde (The Programmer)

Status: Mwerinde disappeared and remains at large

The Rise of a Deadly Cult

Credonia Mwerinde, born in 1952 in Uganda, emerged as the central figure in the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments. While officially just one of the cult's "12 Apostles," insiders knew her as "The Programmer" - the true power behind the organization.

"Whenever anything was to be done, it was Credonia," recalled Therese Kibwetere, the estranged wife of co-leader Joseph Kibwetere, emphasizing Mwerinde's absolute control over the cult's operations.

Credonia Mwerinde, the woman behind the deadliest religious cult massacre

The Cult's Beliefs and Practices

The Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments blended elements of Roman Catholicism with apocalyptic prophecies. Through their 163-page manifesto, "A Timely Message From Heaven: The End of the Present Times," cult leaders claimed to receive messages from the Virgin Mary.

The document contained dire predictions of famines, wars, rivers turning to blood, and food becoming poison. The cult initially predicted the world would end on December 31, 1999, and when this prophecy failed, they revised the date to December 31, 2000.

Members were required to swear vows of absolute poverty, chastity, and obedience. To join, followers had to sell their possessions and donate the proceeds to the cult. At its peak, the movement had approximately 4,000 members living across five compounds in Uganda.

The March 2000 Massacre

Timeline of Events

March 17, 2000

Mwerinde locked hundreds of followers inside a chapel facing Rugyeyo Mountain. All doors and windows were secured to prevent escape before the building was set on fire.

Late March 2000

Police discovered additional mass graves containing hundreds of cult members who had been stabbed, strangled, or poisoned. Many victims were children.

April 2000

The official death toll reached 924, surpassing the 1978 Jonestown massacre (914 deaths) as the deadliest religious cult incident in history.

Investigation and Aftermath

The investigation revealed disturbing details about the cult's final days. Authorities discovered the bodies of six men partially dissolved in sulfuric acid - believed to be the executioners who carried out Mwerinde's orders.

Investigator Eric Naigambi noted the chilling efficiency of the plan: "It would have been the perfect murder. Were it not for the smell of rotting flesh, the murder of the last 600 cult members would have been dismissed as suicide."

Credonia Mwerinde and Joseph Kibwetere disappeared immediately after the massacre and have never been found. The Ugandan government declared April 2, 2000, as a national interdenominational prayer service day in memory of the victims.

Credonia Mwerinde

Role: Cult Leader ("The Programmer")

Status: Disappeared, presumed at large

Born: 1952, Uganda

Joseph Kibwetere

Role: Co-leader, excommunicated Catholic priest

Status: Disappeared with Mwerinde

The Cult

Peak Membership: ~4,000 followers

Compounds: 5 locations across Uganda

Victims: 924 confirmed deaths

Historical Context and Significance

The Kanungu massacre represents a tragic case study in religious extremism and the dangers of charismatic leadership. Unlike the Jonestown mass suicide, evidence suggests most victims in Uganda were murdered rather than participating willingly in their own deaths.

The incident challenged stereotypes about female criminality and leadership in violent organizations. Mwerinde's case demonstrates that women can occupy central roles in orchestrating large-scale violence, contrary to traditional assumptions about gender and aggression.

Twenty-five years after the Kanungu tragedy, the story of Credonia Mwerinde and the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments serves as a sobering reminder of the potential for religious devotion to be manipulated into violence. The case remains one of the most devastating examples of cult violence in modern history and continues to raise important questions about religious freedom, mental health, and community intervention.

Explore More: This story is part of our African Truth & Justice Hub featuring stories of resistance and human dignity.