ANDREW HARDING
Africa Correspondent, BBC
Base: Johannesburg
Blog: www.bbc.co.uk/news/correspondents/andrewharding

Andrew has reported on conflicts around the globe. His blogs offer the latest reports from across Africa

Why Africa?
I’ve been abroad for 20 years now, but only six and a half have been spent in Africa. I’m now based in Johannesburg. This is my favourite continent. Great people, high stakes and more to celebrate than the news suggests.

Why do you blog?
Pretty much everything we do is for TV, radio and online. But the blog gives me more latitude to report stuff that might not get on air, and hear other views. Some of the comments can be demoralising, but plenty are challenging and rewarding and extremely useful.

Which blog was most difficult to write, and why?
In terms of getting the tone right, probably a report about alleged rape here in Misrata. I met two prisoners who claimed to have been involved in mass rape. I couldn’t prove it, but felt the claims deserved to be aired.

Which story was your favourite?
I enjoyed writing about a man who pushes a decorated trolley around my neighbourhood in Jo’burg.

Do you follow any bloggers?
I tend to zoom in on different people, depending which story I’m on. For instance http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/author/cj-chivers/ has been excellent on Libya recently.

How difficult is it to be objective about Libya’s rebellion?
I’ve only seen things from the ‘rebel’ perspective in Benghazi and Misrata. Revolutions are heady experiences, and it’s easy to get caught up by the mood. It’s been a struggle to assess the rebellion, its achievements and very obvious limitations, without overplaying either the challenges or the triumphs.

How do you foresee the future in terms of African war and peace?
I try not to see Africa exclusively through that lens. There are wars here, but not nearly as many as there were a few years ago. That said, I do spend a lot of time focusing on messed-up places like Ivory Coast and Somalia. Sudan is now a particular worry, with the potential to disrupt many of its neighbours.