Stories about French from January, 2009
Morocco: A Country Divided Over Gaza
As a quorum of Arab leaders convene in Doha today, the world is wondering how their meeting might bring about a cessation of hostilities in Gaza. Yesterday, the news broke that King Mohammed VI of Morocco would not be attending the Doha or any other summit. Blogger react to that, and to the division of public opinion within Morocco, in this piece from Jillian York.
DR Congo: Journalist released after 10 months in prison
Bana Congo [Fr] reports that Nsimba Embete Ponte, director of the paper l’Interprète, was released from prison on January 7 after completing a 10-month sentence for “offence to the head...
DR Congo: A musical roundup
With so much bad news coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo lately, we decided to show a different perspective on the country and looking at a completely different type of blogs for a change - those highlighting Congolese music.
DR Congo: ICC trial for Bemba?
Bana Congo [Fr] and Wronging Rights report that Jean-Pierre Bemba‘s confirmation of charges hearing began at the International Criminal Court on January 12. Bemba is alleged to be criminally responsible...
Côte d'Ivoire: Former combattants’ life today
Yoro has been writing about former rebel combattants in Côte d'Ivoire at Chronique Ivoirienne [Fr], with photos of Camille Millerand. In one article, he describes the life of 10 female...
From Kivu to Gaza: How the Media Choose the Conflicts They Cover
The debate on why the war in east Congo receives such little media attention compared to conflicts in the Middle East continues. A Rue89 journalist asks, "If an Israeli death is worth the death of several Palestinians, how many dead Congolese bodies for a Gazan funeral shroud?" Bloggers on both sides deplore the question.
Madagascar: Series of “Prison Breaks” as Life Imitates Television
In Madagascar, 40 inmates are still at large after successful escape attempts from three prisons around the country, all within in 48 hours.
Americas: Celebrating the Visit of the Three Kings
The holiday season continues across the Americas, even as Christmas and the New Year holiday have all passed. In many countries in the region, the feast of “Los Reyes Magos” (The Three Kings) is an equally important festivity in many households. The day falls around the time of Epiphany and is celebrated on January 6th. Some of the region's bloggers recall the traditions in their own countries.
DR Congo: New mass killings, weak media attention
While fighting in North Kivu has been somewhat quiet of late, there have been reports of mass killings perpetrated by the Ugandan rebel group LRA in the Congolese Haut-Uélé region by the Sudanese border during the past two weeks. Meanwhile, media attention is elsewhere.
Central African Republic: Police to strike
Alliance pour la democratie et le progres [Fr]: Police in Central African Republic have announced they plan to go on strike. They are demanding the government sign a law that...
Gaza: “Sarkozy confuses the victim and the perpetrator!”
Moroccan blogger Partageons nos passions [Fr] on world reaction to the Gaza bombings: “Sarkozy confuses the victim and the perpetrator! Perez publicly denies the murder of children in Gaza and...
Côte d'Ivoire: Porn display in news stands
Le blog de Yoro [Fr] shows a picture of a news stand in Abidjan, wondering why pornographic publications are displayed so prominently.
Celebrating the Epiphany in Haiti
Haitian blogger J’ai découvert [Fr] writes about celebrating the Epiphany in Port-au-Prince. “The holiday still remains controversial in Haiti for the country's three most popular religions (Protestantism, Catholicism, and Voodism).”
Haiti: 205th Anniversary of Haitian Independence
After the disasters they went through in 2008, Haitian people celebrated the start of 2009 more or less happily - in Haiti, January 1st marks not only New Year, but also the date when in 1804, the island got independence from France, becoming the first black democracy in the world. Some French-speaking Haitian bloggers pay homage to the anniversary, while preparing themselves for the difficulties their country will have to face in the future...
Guadeloupe, Martinique, Gaza: Overseas Solidarity
The recent news coming from Gaza and the Middle East has had an impact on one Guadeloupe-based blogger, who recalls the historical and steady immigration of Syrians and Lebanese people in the West Indies...
Guinea: History repeating?
A week after the passing of President Lansana Conté and the military coup that followed, African bloggers have been wondering about the resurgence of military coups in the region and about their prospects for success, and getting the feeling that history is repeating.
