Stories about French from October, 2012
General-Secretary of La Francophonie Wants a Seat for Africa at the UN Security Council
Abidjan Net writes [fr] that General-Secretary of La Francophonie Abdou Diouf demanded at the opening of the 2012 Francophonie Summit [fr] that the African continent be granted a seat at the UN security Council. He argues that the current situation allows for some nations to be blamed for human rights violations whereas others nations are getting...
Ghana: Obstacles to the Advancement of Women
Betty Mould Iddrisu, jurist and Minister of Justice of Ghana, writes [fr] on pambazuka.org: To reach the upper level is rare, and once you have arrived there, you still have to face hostility and doubts about your abilities, because you are a woman. A woman at the top works harder...
DR of Congo: Tension Between Kinshasa and Paris as Summit Commences
Le Potentiel writes that [fr] French president Hollande's assessment of Human Rights violations in DR of Congo were not taken lightly by the Congolese government as the Francophone Summit is set to take place in Kinshasa, DRC. The two governments seem to be at odds on the death of Human right activist...
Political Exile On Board the Eritrean Presidential Jet
The blog “les Erythréens” has this report [fr]: Yesterday morning (October 3rd) two Eritrean pilots defected—in their Eritrean Air Force jet—to Saudi Arabia, requesting political exile upon landing at the airport in Jizan.
France: World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg
The first edition of the World Forum for Democracy is currently taking place in Strasbourg, France (5-11 october, 2012). The theme of the forum is “Bridging the map: democracy between old models and new realities”. You can follow the discussions under the Twitter hashtag #CoE_WFD. Director of International Freedom of...
France, World Bank to Help African Nations Negotiate Mining Contracts
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Franc Zone monetary cooperation agreements, the president of Côte d'Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, and the French Minister of Finance, Pierre Moscovici, have published a joint text advocating the establishment of an initiative to end "the excessive exploitation of Africa’s reserves". African bloggers have been giving their opinions on this development.
France: Online News Association Votes Rue89 “Best Foreign Site”
Our partners and friends at Rue89 [fr] won the Online News Association (ONA) prize for “General Excellence, Non-English” in San Francisco last weekend. Pierre Haski, co-founder, tells of the adventure [fr] that is Rue89. Launched in May 2007, it became a great success based on the concept of “Information from...
Côte d'Ivoire: Employees of Health Institutions Strike after Four Months without Pay
S.B comments on the start of health workers’ indefinite strike in Abidjan. On Connection Ivorienne, he states [fr] that: From the total no-fees for healthcare initiated by the state of Côte d'Ivoire after the end of the post-electoral crisis to free selected healthcare services, employees of certain health institutions have yet...
France, Africa: Black Fashion Week Marred by Visa Problems
Two renowned African fashion designers and several models have been denied entry to France for Black Fashion Week October 2012. This event was created by Senegalese fashion designer Adama Paris to show the world the diversity and influence of African creativity on contemporary fashion and has been held in Dakar, Senegal for the past ten years. The first show outside Dakar took place in Prague in November 2011, since then, it has travelled from place to place. The designers made public statements on their struggle to obtain short stay visas.
France : Mystery of Blue Honey Bees Solved
Vkarole writes [fr] that bees in Ribeauvillé, France (Alsace region) started to produce a mysterious blue honey. After an investigation, the beekeepers determined that the color came from a dye used by M&M's factory in the vicinity where a few bees would gather.
The Breakthrough of Films in Local Languages in Sub-Saharan Africa
Nicole Gillet, General Delegate of the Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur, now in its 27th edition, was interviewed by Falila Gbadamassi [fr] on afrik.com: In the past, Senegalese films were in French. Since then, things have changed. They want to produce films with local actors, in their own languages,...
African Viewpoints on the US 2012 Election
The US presidential election will be held on November 6 and the campaign is entering the home stretch. African bloggers have various takes on how the election will unfold and what they can expect from each candidate.
Algeria: Petition to #FreeYacine Zaid, Human Rights Activist
Yougourthen AYAD has started an online petition [fr] to demand that Yacine Zaid, a human rights activist be set free after he was arrested by the police in Ouargla, Algeria [fr] on October, 2nd. Yacine Zaid was allegedly hit on the face and the neck when taken. He is accused of contempt and...
France, Africa: The Debate on Genetically Modified Organisms Grows Contentious
A two year scientific study studying the effects of genetically modified organisms on laboratory rats has been conducted by a team of French researchers. The researchers arrived at conclusions which have reawakened debate on the effects of GMOs.
Burkina Faso: Architect Innovates with Sustainable Primary School
Architect Diébédo Francis Kéré has designed a sustainable primary school in Gando, Burkina Faso, using mud bricks and corrugated iron. The innovative design allows much needed light and ventilation in a village where temperatures sometimes reach 104° F.
Madagascar & Reunion: Maraina, The First Opera from the Indian Ocean
Marie-Clémence & Cesar Paes present a trailer of Maraina, a film that showcases, in their words, “the first opera to be created in the Indian Ocean region” [fr].