Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from July, 2012
31 July 2012
Tanzania: ‘Don't Drown’ SMS-Based Maritime Early Warning System
"Tanzania has few if any rivals for numbers of boat deaths over the last couple of decades," says the founder of Usizame, Rachel Hamada. Usizame is a free SMS-based ferry...
Democratic Republic of Congo: Rwanda Accused in North Kivu Violence
Since April 2012, North Kivu province in the eastern Congo has been destabilised by the March 23 movement (M23), comprised of fighters from the Tutsi-led National Congress for the Defence...
Tanzania: Newspaper Shut Down by Government
On 30 July, the government of Tanzania banned indefinitely a popular weekly investigative newspaper called Mwanahalisi. Tanzanians received the news with great astonishment, although the same newspaper was previously banned...
South Africa: Celebrating First Gold Medal in 8 Years
Congratulations have been pouring in for South African swimmer Cameron van der Burgh who picked up South Africa's first gold medal after the country's dismal failures at the 2008 Beijing...
Ethiopia: Messages of Solidarity from Christians for Muslims
Messages of unity from Ethiopian Christians have gone viral in the Ethiopian digital public as Ethiopian Muslims persistently kept their peaceful protest in a bid to end government’s meddling in...
30 July 2012
Mauritania: Diplomat Sets Himself Alight
A few minutes before Iftar, Hassan Ould Abba, a Mauritanian diplomat who used to work as an advisor at the Mauritanian Embassy in Kuwait, set himself alight in the district...
Nigeria: Senate President Calls for Social Media Censorship
The President of Nigeria's Senate, David Mark, recently advocated clamping down on social media in the country arguing that there was no opportunity for retraction of information in such media....
27 July 2012
Zambia: Pupils Expelled For Facebook Activities
Twenty one pupils at a secondary school in rural western Zambia have been expelled over vile messages against their teachers on Facebook. Meanwhile, ruling party boss wants Zambian citizen news...
Nigeria: Rediscovering the ‘Osun-Oshogbo’ Sacred Groove
Train locals on the use of social media tools and they will tell their own stories, posits a Nigerian documentary producer Immanuel Afolabi while talking about his journey to the...
26 July 2012
Mali: Athletes Go to London Olympics With Heads Held High
"We will definitely be in London and our goal is to prove to the whole world that in spite of our struggles, our country is still standing." - Malian National...
London Olympics: Ambush Marketers Be Warned!
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) has taken stringent measures to try to ensure no ‘ambush marketing’ tactics are used during the London 2012 Olympics. A common...
Brazil: Deported Activist Returns to Denounce Mining Company Vale
Jeremias Vunjanhe, a Mozambican journalist and activist, was prevented from entering Brazil during Rio+20. After civil society movements and organisations mobilised, Jeremias returned to the country to denounce the actions...
Kenya: Schoolgirl Skirts-How Short is Too Short?
Kenyan Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo defense of schoolgirls who want the length of their skirts reduced has sparked a debate about culture, modernity and morality in Kenya. Kenyan media quoted...
25 July 2012
Ghana: President's Death Trends on Ghanaian Twittersphere
Ghanaian President John Atta Mills died on July 24, 2012. Ghanaians took to Twitter to express their shock and sadness. Tweets of the President’s death hit the social media site...
Madagascar: Three Soldiers Killed During Uprising in Military Barracks
Three soldiers were killed and four injured during a confrontation at Ivato barracks, Madagascar on Sunday July 22, 2012. This revolt took place shortly before a meeting between the interim...
About our Sub-Saharan Africa coverage
Amanda Lichtenstein is the Sub-Saharan Africa editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
Lova Rakotomalala is the Francophone (French) editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
