Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from June, 2012
Benin: Introducing the African School of Economics
Dr. Leonard Wantchekon introduced the African School of Economics ASE at the World Bank on June 14. The campus will be located in the city of Akassato in Abomey-Calavi (Benin), near Cotonou. The goal of the school is to “to address the dearth of quality tertiary education, cutting-edge research, and innovative public policy in...
Nigeria: Senate President Challenged to name Boko Haram Sponsors
Two Northern youth groups on Wednesday criticized the Senate President, David Mark over his recent comments urging northern leaders to check the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, Connected Africa reports.
Mali: Timeline and Video of the War between MLNA and Ansar Dine in Gao
Weeks removed from striking an alliance to take over the North of Mali, the Tuareg rebel movement MNLA and the Islamist group of Ansar Dine are fighting in the town of Gao, Sila Aksou says. Adam Thiam has the timeline of the conflict [fr] over the control of the Northern part...
Uganda: Breaking the Culture of Silence Around Health Rights
A video produced by Results for Development, an international non-profit organisation whose mission is to unlock solutions to tough development challenges, was released online recently to encourage Ugandans to break the culture of silence and take control of their health rights.
Africa: Celebrating Humanity through Photos and Videos
An article highlighting 21 pictures that will restore your humanity recently went viral. Unfortunately, Africans and Africa were absent from all of them. Yet, there is no shortage of great testimonies of human spirit from the African continent. Here are a few photos and videos that show, 'Africa's got Heart' too.
Comoros: Women Barred from Public Beach for Religious Reasons
Women are no longer welcome at the beach of Itsandra-Mdjini [fr] reports Mlimadji in Comores-Actualités. He explains that city officials decided to ban women from the beach at the request of religious leaders. The beach is managed by the cultural association Twamaya and has historically been open to everyone without consideration of...
Mali: 100 Sharia Lashes for Unwed Parents in the North
The grip of Islamist group Ansar Dine on northern Mali and their imposition of Sharia has recently been tragically demonstrated in Timbuktu. A couple who had a child out of wedlock, publicly received 100 lashes each and were forced to marry.
Senegal: Inaugural Use of Gender Parity in Upcoming Elections
This July 1, the Senegalese will be called again to the polls for parliamentary elections. These forthcoming elections are a first for West Africa as the law on absolute gender parity in electoral lists will be applied for the first time.
Kenya: Human-Wildlife Conflict in Urban Jungle
Angry residents of Kitengela, an outskirt of Nairobi, killed two lions and four cubs on 20 June who attacked a dozen of livestock. A pride of lions invaded a homestead the following day killing goats and sheep. We took a trip around Twittersphere to find out interesting reactions about the incident.
Sudan: Unshackling the Sudanese Revolution
Unlike other countries in the region, Sudan is grossly underreported, and this was ever so evident during Friday and Saturday’s street demonstrations. The Sudanese government keeps a tight grip on local media and bans journalists from reporting on issues of human rights and corruption.
Sudan: Protests Trigger Arrest of Twitter Activists
Wide protests in Sudan on Friday led to the crackdown of many Sudanese activists, including prominent Twitter personalities.
Zambia: Will Zambia Score Boardroom Victory Against Sudan?
Zambian netizens have been hoping and praying for a boardroom victory against Sudan from the time it became known that Sudan, which beat Zambia 2-0 in a world cup qualifying match in Khartoum on 2 June, used an ineligible player.
Sudan: “Police Denies Use of Bullets; All Injuries are Imaginary”
Sudanese officials are repeating the all too familiar ‘lies' Arab officials have been telling us since the beginning of the so-called Arab Spring in December 2010. Protests are contained, they say, in citizens attacking policemen, who retaliate in self-defense, goes the story. Netizens paint a different picture amid rumours that the Internet will be cut off as protests increase.
Sudan: Netizens Verify Internet Blackout Rumours
Netizens are watching Sudan closely, following rumours that the Sudanese authorities intend to cut off the Internet - a chilling reminder of Egypt's attempt to silence activists and contain the January 25 revolution when it pulled the plug off the www on January 27.
#SudanRevolts in Wake of Austerity Anger
Amid a complete media blackout, the youth of Sudan have taken to the streets in a nation-wide protest against recent austerity measures. Maha El-Sanosi reports.
Brazil: Is There A Clear Foreign Policy for the Middle East and Africa?
The twenty-first century has brought important changes to the balance of power which had been in place until then, with obvious ramifications for the international economy and politics. In this context, Brazil has come to dispute its influence in recent years in two regions which were formerly dominated by the central countries: the Middle East and Africa.
Somalia: Deep Divisions Over New Constitution
Somalia, which has not had a central government controlling the entire country since 1991, is drafting a new constitution that will end the current transitional administration and elect a new president. Here is a roundup of debate and conversation taking place online about the draft constitution.
China: Africans Protest a Suspicious Death in Police Custody
Chinese public opinion has been highly divisive following a protest involving hundreds of African residents of Guangzhou this week, sparked by the suspicious police station death of a member of the southern Chinese city's large African community.
Ghana: Implementing Electronic Surveillance Of Coastline
Ghana is implementing a vessel traffic management and information system (VTMIS) to provide electronic surveillance and monitoring of the entire coast of the country, Ghanaian blogger Seth reports.
Kenya: Online Reactions to the Killing of 6 Lions
Kenyans are reacting on Twitter at the news of the killing of 6 lions by residents of Kitengela a town near Nairobi in an apparent human wildlife conflict.The hashtags #Lion and #Kitengela are trending on Twitter.
Rediscovering Africa's ‘Forgotten’ History
Contrary to what former French President Sarkozy said in a speech in Dakar, the history of the African continent is full of rich civilisations and iconic characters. But this history is too often overlooked or ignored. Here you will find some reasons to rediscover Africa's history.
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