Stories about French from March, 2012
Madagascar: Details of the 1947 Massacre Still Unknown
TanaNews reports that prime minister Beriziky requested that France returns to Madagascar the archives [fr] regarding the massacre of about 100 000 people in 1947 to repress the movement for the independence of Madagascar. Olivier Herviaux provides some context [fr] to the massacre. French Amabassador Châtaigner states on twitter that the archives...
Senegal and Neighboring Nations Celebrate Peaceful Elections
An historical ending to a tense electoral period took place in Senegal on March 25. Senegalese celebrate peaceful elections which have permitted the political alternative to express itself. Citizens from Senegal and neighboring countries have voiced their approval, and in some cases, envy.
Algeria: 2012 Election Watchdog launched by Internet Activists
With the upcoming Algerian Legislative Election scheduled for May 10, 2012, one of the many elections taking place in 2012 [fr] within the continent of Africa, a collaborative website called Nahrag [ar] has just been launched by internet activists. Putting the case for more transparency in an election threatened with...
Guadeloupe: A Cuban-born Mulatto, Mayor of Paris
Guadeloupean blogger B.World Connection posts about the release of a book about the first non-white Mayor of Paris, who accomplished much towards secularity and social progress in the 19th century French Republic, yet fell into complete oblivion until now.
Senegal: The Provisional Tally of the Presidential Elections
The provisional tally of the second round of the presidential elections were published on March 27: The incumbent candidate Abdoulaye Wade is projected to have obtain 999,556 votes which is about 34.2% of the votes. Macky Sall was elected with about 1,909,244 votes which amount to 65.8%. The percentage of...
DR of Congo: Health Challenges in Goma Due to Clean Water Shortage
Passy Mubalama reports [fr] that the Town of Goma in North Kivu, DRC is facing multiple challenges due to shortage of clean water. She explains that water provision has been a problem since the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano in 2002 that destroyed the pipe that conducted clean water to Goma.
Senegal: Wade Warned New President Sall of Shortage in Public Funds
M. Ndiaye reports [fr] that Wade warned newly elected president Macky Sall that the State will not be able to pay public servant salaries if he is not re-elected. Furthermore, P. Faye adds that Wade also stated before election Day that infrastructure construction in the city of Matam and Podor will stop...
European Commission's ‘Clash of Civilizations’ Video Blunder
A video parodying the film Kill Bill and building on a 'clash of civilizations' theme was made to promote enlargement of the European Union to young adults. However, the video was pulled on March 6 after it was subject to virulent accusations of racism.
Mali: Citizens Stunned by Sudden Military Coup
Rengade soldiers have announced that they are seizing power in Mali, after taking over the state television building and presidential palace. They say the government failed to adequately support their troops in an increasingly violent struggle with a Tuareg rebels in the north of the country.
Mali: Facing Secession and Food Crisis as Elections Loom
Mali is currently facing critical challenges while preparing for the presidential elections on April 29. After the fall of Gaddafi in Libya, returning Tuareg armed groups posted there threaten to seek secession for the Azawad territory, or Northern Mali.
Spain: Are You For or Against EuroVegas?
The CEO of Las Vegas Sands, multibillionaire Sheldon Adelson, has decided to establish his next hotel-casino complex EuroVegas in Spain. If the Spanish government seems enthusiastic about this project, the Spanish people are divided on the issue.
Lebanon : Mothers’ Day Event in the Absence of Prisoners Detained in Syria
Various organisations demanding the liberation of Lebanese prisoners detained in Syria are organising an event in the “Tent of the Families of the Missing and Detained” on Lebanese Mothers’ Day, today, 21st March 2012, in the gardens in front of the Beirut UN building.
Poland: The ‘Web Kids’ Manifesto’
Originally written in by Polish photographer and poet Piotr Czerski, the 'Web Kids’ Manifesto' is appearing on the web in many other languages since its publication on February 11. Samy Boutayeb explains more.
Senegal: Meet Cheikh Bethio Thioune, President Wade Divine Helper
On the blog “Teranga, ici et là”, M-L Jossselin and M-A Boisvert share a video [fr] of Cheikh Bethio Thioune, a prominent leader of The Mouride brotherhood, a promiment order of Islamic Sufism in Senegal. In this video taken at a meeting on March 17, the religious leader declared that the late founder of...
Switzerland: Greetings from the “Greeks” of the French Cantons
An article from a Swiss German newspaper accusing the Swiss French of being the "Greeks of Switzerland" has driven French-speakers to reply in a humorous manner on social networks.
Cameroon: UN Drinking Water Data under Question
Oriane Alix in Cameroon reacts to the joint press release from UNICEF and WHO that states that 89% of the world has access to drinking water today. She writes [fr] the following on the collaborative blog of the West Africa WASH Journalists Network: “To announce having reached these United Nations Millennium Development...
Africa: A Dumping Ground for Energy-related Waste?
Dr Yves Ekoué Amaïzo, International Finance Consultant, wrote [fr] the following on the website Amaizo Info: “The year 2012 has been chosen as the International Year of Sustainable Energy. Nevertheless, many rich countries dump their nuclear, chemical and electronic waste in Africa in exchange for sums of money that are...
France: The Human Rights Film Festival Awards
Youphil [fr] published the full list of the recent 2012 Human Rights Film Festival awards in France [fr]. This year, the jury award went to an investigation documentary, Affaire Chebeya: un meurtre d'Etat? [fr] (The Chebeya case: murdered by the State?) by Belgium director Thierry Michel on the murder of human rights activist Floribert...
Guinea: Journalist Assaulted by Police Officers
Following an assault on a journalist by overzealous security guards at the Central Bank of Guinea on February 27, there was intense indignation among journalists and Guinean and African bloggers.
Morocco: Girl Forced to Marry Her Rapist Commits Suicide
Amina, a 16-year-old girl from Larache in northern Morocco, who was forced to marry her rapist, chose to put an end to her life by swallowing rat poison. Amina's story deeply touched, and outraged Moroccan netizens, who have been using the Twitter has tag #RIPAmina to mourn the young girl.
Lebanon: Picture An Arab Man
Rania Massoud repost on her personal blog [fr] her article published by Lebanese daily L'orient-Le jour about a photography project undertaken by Tamara Abdul Hadi. “Picture an Arab man” wishes to update the image of today's Arab men by photographing men from every Arab country in the nude.