Stories about French from February, 2008
Cameroon: Will the widespread unrest bring political change?
Cameroon was besieged this week by the worst violence in fifteen years, as a transportation strike formally ended by unions on Wednesday expanded into a more general protest against rising food and oil prices and President Biya's attempts to alter the constitution and extend his 25-year rule. Bloggers and netizens describe the situation on the ground and what it means for Cameroon's future.
D.R. of Congo: Plane wreckage has become part of the urban landscape
In October, Du Cabiau Kinshasa wrote about an Antonov plane which went down in Kinshasa, killing three dozen people. This week, he posts a photograph of part of the wreckage, which casually sits somewhere along the road to the airport. “No one is interested in it anymore. The urban jungle...
Madagascar: After the storm Ivan, the aftermath
Tropical Cyclone Ivan has now left Madagascar leaving behind several regions in shambles and thousands of people without homes. The official account by the authorities reports 2 deaths and 15,000 people without homes. Considering that Ivan was classified as a very severe cyclonic storm with winds at up to 137 km/h, many people are wondering what might be the final count of actual casualties and damages.
French immigration minister: ‘France isn't racist’
Forum Realisance summarizes French immigration minister Brice Hortefeux's recent interview [Fr] with Jeune Afrique in which he discussed DNA testing for immigrants, immigration quotas, expulsion and other controversial issues, finally stating, “No, France is not racist.”
Burkina Faso: Comedy Festival in Ouagadougou
QuophyBlogeur writes about Burkina Faso's first comedy festival [Fr], and its “magic to break from the monotony of life and overcome life's most difficult situations.”
San Francisco Gay Choir, in Arabic
Zizou from Djerba blogs about the San Francisco Gay Choir‘s performance of Safeer El Layl, quite possibly the world's first gay-themed choral number to be written and sung in Arabic.
Martinique: Dockworkers on strike. Again.
In Martinique, le blog de [moi] writes that the port of Fort-de-France is completely blocked [Fr], and has been for a week, by dockworkers on strike. She's not too sympathetic, noting, according to one report, that dockworkers’ salaries have doubled in the last five years, and that they last went...
African Intellectuals Critique Sarkozy's Dakar Address in New Book
Anandoo.net announces L'Afrique répond à Sarkozy [Fr], a collective critique of Nicolas Sarkozy's infamous Dakar speech by prominent African intellectuals, published in Paris this week.
Morocco: Bloggers Rally Behind Fouad Mourtada
In Morocco, francophone bloggers rally behind Fouad Mourtada, jailed for posting a Facebook profile that spoofed a member of the Moroccan royal family. Mourtada's arrest reveals the tensions between modern Morocco and Morocco of the Middle Ages, they write, while still holding out hope for an acquittal.
Madagascar: Cyclone Ivan Wrecking Havoc.
Tropical Cyclone Ivan has landfalled in the Northeastern region of Madagascar on February, 17th and it is now categorized as a category 4 Hurricane. (via meteo france) Even though Madagascar is better prepared for cyclone season, having already taken the blunt of many cyclones (most recently cyclone Fame), the region...
From Morocco, With Love
On this, St. Valentine's Day, the day for lovers, poems, flowers and romance, Moroccan bloggers are sharing their hearts. Few holidays have the ability to inspire both love and blog posts, but today's is certainly one of them.
Imad Moughniyeh's execution without trial
Lebanese blogger Frencheagle discusses the assassination [Fr] of Hezbollah leader Imad Moughniyeh, described as an execution without trial, and its impact on Lebanon.
Why the Senegalese government likes anti-gay protests
Blog politique au Senegal writes a searing critique of the government's attitude toward public protest in Senegal. Bad: protests against the forced marriage of young girls. Good: protests calling for the extermination or expulsion of homosexuals.
Echoes of Orwell in Senegal
Blog politique au Senegal discusses George Orwell [Fr] and sees echoes of 1984 in Senegal's political system.
The ‘historical reality’ of homosexuality in Africa
Blog politique au Senegal reposts an article about the “historical reality” [Fr] of homosexuality in Africa.
In Madagascar, bloggers debate abortion and women's rights
With a Valentine's Day performance of the controversial Vagina Monologues and a human rights committee's decision to call for a review of Madagascar's abortion ban, gender issues are a hot topic in the Malagasy blogosphere.
France mute on detained opposition leaders in Chad
Le Pangolin writes about the extrajudiciary detention [Fr] of opposition politicians in Chad and France's conspicuous silence.
Kidnapping in Haiti
NoteDor writes about kidnapping in Haiti [Fr]: “Kidnapping has entered our morals and seems to be ingrained in them. The authorities are powerless, or rather indifferent; often it is they who organize [kidnappings]…Those who orchestrate these horrors must hate our country with all their heart…Love to them all, for they...
Moroccan bloggers call for education reform
When the World Bank recently announced that Middle Eastern and North African nations need to improve their education systems in order to reach their development goals and be competitive in a globalized market, it sent ripples through Morocco's Francophone blogosphere, prompting calls to improve the nation's ailing education system.
Spreading the word about indigenous rights in Republic of Congo
indigenouspeoplecongobrazza writes about efforts to educate [Fr] Congolese about the new UN Declaration on Indigenous Rights.
Morocco's coach sacked after Africa Cup loss
Moroccan national football team's coach, Henri Michel, was sacked following Morocco's poor performance in the African Nations Cup: unfair, francophone bloggers say.
