Stories about French from December, 2010
Tunisia : “We Are Not Afraid Anymore!”
The year 2010 is coming to an end but Tunisia is shaken up by a social uprising that many bloggers hope will bring a decisive change in their country. Because of the Tunisian censorship of internet and the media, social media are heavily used to inform and organize the protests for 13 days now by using the hashtag #SidiBouzid. One main question stands out: Why are the protests in Tunisia not having the same echo as the protests in Iran? Additionally, why is censorship by China always discussed but the blackout by the police state of Tunisia never addressed?
Tunisia: Journalist Nebrass Hedhili Attacked during Uprising
Nawaat writes that journalist Nebrass Hedhili was physically abused by policemen not in uniform in the La Chebba center (fr). Nawaat also regularly updates a press review of the ongoing Sidi Bouzid uprising(fr).
Comoros: Provisional Results of the Presidential Elections and Possible Fraud
Wongo's blog in Anjouan provides some provisional results (VP Ikililou Dhoinine projected with 65% of the votes) of the presidential elections currently taking place in Comoros (fr). Opposition claims that fraud has taken place in Anjouan though (fr).
Mali: Tracklist from music shared by cellphone users
A tracklist of music shared between cell phones users in Mali: “This little cassette of music collected from cellphones has been in internet circulation lately…”
Tragedy bookends Year 2010 for Francophone Citizen Media
It appears that tragedy will bookend yet another year rich in remarkable events in the world of francophone citizen media. The month of January set the tone with the fallout from the earthquake in Haiti and December saw the elections in Cote d'Ivoire take a dramatic turn. Here is the year 2010 reviewed through the lenses of francophone citizen media users.
Morocco: The Minister Goes to Facebook
In a first of its kind, Moroccan minister for Youth Affairs and Sports offers to publicly exchange thoughts on his Facebook page, once every week, with fellow netizens, as reported by blogger BigBrother_ma [Fr].
Tunisia: Unemployed Man's Suicide Attempt Sparks Riots
An unemployed Tunisian set himself on fire in protest against his joblessness, sparking a wave of riots on the ground and solidarity and support on social networking platforms. While the fate of Mohamed Bouazizi, aged 26, from Sidi Bouzid, in southern Tunisia, remains unclear, Tunisian netizens ceased the incident to complain about the lack of jobs, corruption and deteriorating human rights conditions in their country.
Côte d'Ivoire: Online Campaign for Peace and Candlelight Vigil Launched
Responding to the call of Diaby Mohamed for a brainstorming on the crisis in Côte d'Ivoire, Ivorian Internet users decided to take action for peace in their country. The Facebook group “For Peace, nothing but Peace in Côte d'Ivoire” was created to promote “Opération Bougie et symbole blanc pour la paix“(fr)...
Côte d'Ivoire: Ivorian Internet Users Fear a New Era of Terror in Abidjan
The political crisis in Côte d'Ivoire is getting increasingly violent. According to the UN, 50 people were killed and 200 injured for the past three days. Traditional media were shunned from showing scenes of violence during some of the skirmishes but internet users managed to publish some video footage of the violence around the country.
Africa: The Scandal of the “Ill-gotten Gains”
In the scandal of the wealth accumulated by some African politicians, the French Supreme Court of Appeals reversed the verdict pronounced by Paris Court of Appeals a year ago. The court of appeal deemed that the claim of embezzlement filed by Transparency International against the leaders of RDC, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea and their entourage was valid. Bloggers discuss the implications of this wealth accumulated by African leaders in contrast with the poverty of the rest of the population.
Côte d'Ivoire: Shots Fired and at Least 3 Killed during March in Abidjan
The citizen media platform Womzomai and its facebook page posted photos from the violence that broke out today in Abidjan during the march. BBC Africa reports that at least 3 people were shot and killed.
Guinea: Clarification from Reporters Without Borders
The blog banabananews.org published [fr] a press release from Paris by the NGO Reporters Without Borders, dated 8th December 2010 in which it states: “‘Reporter Sans Frontière Section Guinée’ has absolutely nothing to do with the campaign for freedom of the press, has no link whatsoever with our organisation, and is...
Côte d'Ivoire: Citizens Marching towards another “Orange Revolution”?
Although the atmosphere was already quite worrisome in Côte d'Ivoire, the tension level climbed up a few notches in the past few days. After a skirmish on December 12 between the two opposite camps and the prolongation of the cease-fire by Laurent Gbagbo, Alassane Ouattara and his partisans are now calling on the population to "engage in a pacific and democratic mass protest in order to install the legitimate and legal administration". Bloggers react before the potentially explosive event:
Guinea: « WikiLeaks » Revelation on the Discussions between Burkina Faso, the United States, France and Morocco about Dadis
The website Guinée Inter published an article from Jeune Afrique which reveals [fr] that: “A series of American diplomatic cables, published by WikiLeaks on Saturday, details the four-way discussions which took place between the President of Burkina Faso Blaise Compaoré, the United States, France and Morocco between the end of...
Côte d'Ivoire: Skirmish between Gbagbo's and Ouattara's supporters at Hôtel du Golfe
According to L'Intelligent d'Abidjan and Diaby Mohamed, a blogger who visited l’ Hôtel du Golfe where Ouattara holds his HQ, a skirmish occured between Gbagbo's Security and Defense Forces (FDS) and Ouattara's New Forces (FN). This caused dissemination of many rumors but @ourmaninafrica reports that calm has returned , except for roadblocks...
Western Sahara: Wikileaks Revelations Spark Comments
Reactions to the diplomatic cables released by the whistleblower website Wikileaks continue to flourish all over the blogosphere. Revelations concerning the conflict over Western Sahara have sparked a few comments.
Côte d'Ivoire: Anger and Sarcasm in Citizen Media after the Elections
After a hopeful start, the presidential elections in Cote d'Ivoire took a dramatic turn that led the country in a seemingly hopeless political stalemate. While the crisis persists, the Ivorian blogosphere seems to be split between either taking the events with a hint of humor and sarcasm or debating passionately the political and legal implications of the latest events. Julie Owono explains:
Tunisia: Censorship Continues as Wikileaks Cables Make the Rounds
Tunisian activists pounced on the latest Wikileaks US Embassy Cables, dedicating a new website to republish and discuss the revelations related to their country. Tunileaks, was launched by Nawaat one hour after the whistle-blowing site unleashed the cables - sparking a new round of censorship of the www.
COP 16: Young Bloggers Track Negotiations
Adopt a Negotiator, part of the TckTckTck campaign focusing on climate change, is an initiative where several young people from different parts of the world become “trackers.” Their role is to be interpreters and communicators of what their national delegations say and do at the UNFCCC conferences on Climate Change.
Thoughts On World AIDS Day (December 1st)
Gayvox.com reminds (fr) everyone that December 1 was World AIDS Day, and adds, “Since a UN resolution of 1987, when the epidemic was officially recognized, this first of December marks the 23rd World AIDS Day. The 2010 AIDS Day continues the theme of 2009: Universal Access and Human Rights. All...
Africa: Condoms Finally Authorized Conditionally by The Pope
The news spread around the world in a matter of minutes. In a book released on November 23, Pope Benedict XVI declared that "in certain cases, when the intention is to reduce the risk of contamination, [the condom] can even be a first step toward opening the way to a more humane sexuality, lived differently." African bloggers respond to this announcement.
