Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from August, 2017
Is Cameroonian Journalist Ahmed Abba’s Imprisonment Because of Security, or Is It an Attack on the Press?
"This is an attack on the press. It's as if they want to criminalize journalism as an occupation in Cameroon. All they're accusing Ahmed Abba of is being a professional."
‘Massacre’ of Suspected Gang Members Has Mozambicans Asking: What's the Role of Police?
Police maintained their intention was "to neutralize" the men, who died in a shootout. Some Mozambicans were quick to say police shouldn't be in the business of killing people.
Provisional Election Results Show Angola's Longtime Ruling Party Is Staying Put
On 23 August, more than 9 million Angolans were called to elect the new president.
Nigeria's President Surprises With a Speech Not About His Health, but About Ethnic Tensions
President Muhammadu Buhari finally returned after three months in the UK on medical vacation, and his first public address flagged online comments that "question[ed] our collective existence as a nation."
Shanty Towns in Conakry and Freetown: Mismanagement and Vulnerability in Africa's Booming Capitals
For several days now, bulldozers have been demolishing houses in Démoudoula, Conakry, leaving men, women and children on the streets.
Residents of Ethiopia's Oromia Region Strike to Demand Release of Political Prisoners
Normally crowded streets and shops were empty as Oromos stayed home from work.
History Repeats Itself, Violently, in Burkina Faso
"Every time, they come to kill our brothers. Those are two restaurants beloved of Burkinabe that have been targeted."
China’s Taobao Faces Storm For Selling Personalised Messages Delivered by African Children
"Disgraceful! Taobao should put an end to these shops and investigate vendors for false advertising and malicious anti-black racism!"
A Young Engineer From Niger Is Taking on Industrial Air Pollution With His Invention
The T-shaped device captures the CO2-containing heavy substances from the fumes via an affinity-based chemical assay that binds CO2 particles.
Record-Breaking Action Movie ‘Wolf Warriors 2′ Takes Chinese Nationalism to a New Level
"This movie is horrible and unreasonable, a dream of idiotic patriotism."
Guinean Filmmaker Paul Théa Speaks About His ‘Slave Route’ Project
"We are the first to propose a museum about slavery in Guinea, and to include the story of the slaves in South Carolina," says the filmmaker.
Angolan Activists Create a Platform To Monitor Presidential Elections
"...All of us complain of malpractice and electoral irregularities, so it is necessary that everybody acts as election monitors and remains alert."
What Once Was the Main Slave Port in the Americas Is Now a World Heritage Site
The recognition forces Brazil to acknowledge a period of its history that it still struggles to fully confront.
Even the Best Dancer Leaves the Dance Floor: African Strongmen and Political Transition

"The fear of challenging leaders who cling to power is, for some Africans, rooted in anxiety about alternatives—alternatives which remain unknown because they are never allowed to emerge and develop."
Ethiopia’s Anti-Graft Campaign is Rife with Ethnic Tensions
"There are practically no non-corrupt officials. Those arrested are corrupt, and most of the top officials who are leading the anti-corruption campaigns are also corrupt."