Stories about French from February, 2011
France: New Right-Leaning Website Enters the Fray
Atlantico.fr, a new right-leaning website in French modeled on several American web successes (including The Atlantic and Politico) is quickly earning notoriety in France in expectation of what role it...
France: Demonstration in Paris Against Gabon Dictatorship
Around 7,000 people gathered in the streets of French capital Paris to demonstrate against African dictators and the French government's alleged collusion with African dictatorial regimes on Saturday 26 February, 2011. Protestors chanted slogans outside Gabon President Ali Bongo's 140 million Euro mansion.
Côte d'Ivoire: Images of Vandalised Mosque in Yopougon
Ibrahim Diarra posted pictures of a mosque in Yopougon, Côte d'Ivoire which he says was vandalised on February 26 by President Laurent Gbagbo's Young Patriots. The photos appeared on the...
Mexico: Kidnapping Case Affects Diplomatic Relations with France
Relations between Mexico and France have been strained due to the kidnapping conviction of French national Florence Cassez in Mexico City. Cassez was arrested in 2006, accused of kidnapping charges and sentenced to 60 years in prison.
Tunisia: Prime Minister Resigns Following a Bloody Saturday
Interim government Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannoushi has stepped down following a bloody Saturday in the capital Tunis. The clashes that started on Friday night in Habib Bourguiba Avenue, between security forces and protesters led to the death of three persons.
Côte d’Ivoire: Twitter Campaign for Anderson Cooper’s Attention
Global Voices author Anna Gueye was instrumental in a recent campaign to persuade influential CNN reporter Anderson Cooper to pay as much attention to protests in African countries such as Gabon and Côte d’Ivoire, as he has to Tunisia, Egypt and other Arab world uprisings.
Tunisia: Peaceful Protests Turn into Violent Confrontations
Protests calling for immediate political reforms and the resignation of Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannoushi continue in Tunisia. Apparently, the ousting of the former President Ben Ali is not good enough for a large portion of Tunisians who seek an overthrow of the whole regime and cutting all ties with the past.
Africa: Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou
Boukari Ouédraogo wrote [Fr] on his blog: ” The 22nd edition of the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou will take place in Ouagadougou from February 26th to March...
Côte d'Ivoire: The Difficult Legacy of Houphouët-Boigny
To better understand the origins of the current political crisis in Côte d'Ivoire, it is necessary to place recent events in their post-colonial context. Anna Gueye traces the history of the Ivorian political crisis and the reactions of bloggers in the face of the latest news.
Will Algeria Follow Tunisia and Egypt?
The two attempts by the National Coordination for Change and Democracy to organize a march in Algiers on February 12 and 19, 2011, failed, mostly because of the security measures set up to prevent Algerians from protesting, but also due to the weakness of the organizations calling for the demonstrations. Will Algeria match Egypt and Tunisia's protest successes?
Côte d'Ivoire: Violent Repression of Street Protests
After a little rest in coverage, the international media is once again looking to Côte d'Ivoire. The last five days have seen the country experience further violence and increased radicalisation of Ivorian netizens' speeches.
Tunisia: Sit-In Continues Against Interim Government
Following Tunisia's recent revolution the country's political situation remains fragile and critical, as a sit-in of protesters at Kasbah square near the main government building in capital Tunis, enters its fourth successive day. Demonstrators have shown no sign of backing down and are determined to carry on until all of their demands, which are mainly political, have been responded to.
Guinea: The First Blogcamp in Conakry
The first Guinean blogcamp took place February 2nd at the Press House in Coléah, a suburb of Conakry. In a nation striving for a national dialogue after tumultuous years of political strife, ICT might play an important role in building consensus.
Chad: Contested Parliamentary Elections, Protesters in the Streets
On February 16th 2011, Makaila published [Fr]: “many opposition militants gathered in multiple districts around the city of Moundou to protest against the results of the parliamentary elections [on February...
Morocco: King Sets Up Economic and Social Council
After a visit to France, Morocco's King Mohammed VI returned to the Royal Palace in Casablanca to announce the initiation of an Economic and Social Council on Monday, February 22, 2011. The Council, first established in the 1996 Constitution, has been a long time in coming.
Gabon: Mourning Unrest's First Casualty, as Bongo Meets Sarkozy
Gabon is mourning its first casualty since the beginning of the country's political unrest. The cause of Marie Memdome's death is still in dispute, as Ali Bongo travels to France to meet with French President Sarkozy. Protesters against Bongo in Paris were dispersed by police forces with tear gas.
Cameroon: Police Brutality against Protesters
Patrice Nganang posted on Twitter a link to a video showing police violently dispersing a demonstration in Douala on February 21. Cameroonians are calling for large demonstrations for free elections...
Côte d'Ivoire: Opposite Sides Demonstrated on February 19
On the blog “Actu et Opinions”, a post states: Meetings in Abidjan: 2 weights, 2 measures [FR] where one learned that demonstrators did not receive the same reception from the...
Morocco: Portraits of a Protest
Few captured the February 20, 2011 protests in Morocco as beautifully as Omar El Hyani, whose photos from Rabat were linked to by The Nation and posted on the blog Mamfakinch. Here we pick a selection of the best images.
Morocco: In Marrakech, Destruction Amidst Peaceful Protest
Across Morocco, peaceful protests have emerged today, with thousands taking to the streets from Tangier to Fes. In the southern city of Marrakech, however, reports that the protests have turned into chaos emerged this afternoon, with claims of vandalism and attempts by protesters to storm police headquarters.
Morocco: Across the Nation, Demonstration
In the broader context of the Arab world, Morocco has one particularly unique feature: Whereas other countries in the region often have two cities of importance, Morocco has six...at least. Jillian C. York reports on online activity from Morocco's most important hubs.
