Straddling the Arab North and African South, Sudan's Abyei region is traditionally seen as a cultural crossroads.
Arabs and Africans have mixed freely there for centuries.
But as the North and South wrestle for control of the oil-rich region, the issue of ethnic identity is dividing its people
The World Cup football tournament kicks off in one week, and host South Africa is busy putting on the finishing touches. But not everyone is looking forward to the tournament. Authorites in cities including Cape Town are being accused of clearing the poor from the streets - to create a good impression for visiting fans. Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa has more.