Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from June, 2012
Gabon: Civil Society Leaders Arrested Prior to New York Forum Africa
News website Koaci.com [fr] reports that Marc Ona Essangui, of the civil society organisation ‘Ca suffit comme ça’ (Enough is enough) and other Gabonese activists were arrested this morning in the capital Libreville. They were planning to hold a ‘Forum of the indignants‘ [fr] to counter the New York Forum Africa,...
Zambia: Netizens Speak Out Against Police Brutality
Zambian netizens express their disbelief and anger online over the brutal manner in which Zambian police handled a peaceful demonstration in Lusaka by youths belonging to the opposition United Party for National Development.
Cameroon: Electric Dreams for Development by 2035
Cameroon hopes to reach the status of emerging market by 2035 through a series of “great achievements” in transport and energy infrastructure development. It's a deadline that fails to convince many commentators, if only because the challenges are so great.
Kenya: Digital Activists Fight Corruption Online
I Paid a Bribe is an initiative of Kenyan anti-corruption activists fighting corruption in Kenya using the new technologies. I Paid a Bribe, modeled after India's anti-corruption portal (IPAB), is a partnership between IPAB and Wamani Trust of Kenya to bring IPAB to East and Central Africa.
Zambia Fixes Maize Price Again, Flustering World Bank
Increases in the price of maize, a staple food of Zambia, has previously led citizens to riot and even stage a government coup. Despite warnings from the World Bank that it will damage the agriculture sector, Zambian leaders continue to fix the floor price.
Kenya: Urban Gardening Taking Root
In Kenya, city dwellers are learning different techniques to grow food for consumption and sale even in reduced spaces. For people with low or no income, urban gardening may be the key to food security. These videos show how food can be grown in containers and using limited space and resources.
Ethiopia: The Role of Journalists Under Dictatorships
A video showing Ethiopian Prime Minster Meles Zenawi being heckled at the 2012 G8 Food Security Symposium has sparked a debate about the role of journalists in authoritarian regimes. Ethiopian activist and journalist Abebe Gellaw is seen in the video shouting “Freedom, Freedom, Meles Zenawi is a dictator, you are committing crime against humanity.”
Mauritania: Students Sacked because of Activism
The story of the expulsion of students from Nouakchott University due to their activism has resurfaced, this time following a decision by the disciplinary council at the Medicine Faculty to sack a group of students who held a voluntary week to clean the faculty. That decision was met with disappointment by their colleagues, who considered it as a threat to all medicine students and an offense to them. Ahmed Jeddou reviews the situation, in this post originally written in Arabic.
Global Voices Podcast: Storytime in Poetry and Literature
In this edition, we’re talking about literature and publishing. You’ll hear some good old fashioned interviews with well-read members of the Global Voices team as well as readings of original work by our authors and the wider community.
Mozambique: A train journey tweeted in photos
Mozambican journalist Hermínio José Doce has been tweeting a train journey in southern Mozambique. His photos document the way charcoal vendors arrive in the city of Maputo, supplying residents with cooking fuel.
Africa: African Perspectives Online
African Perspectives is an online platform for Africans on the continent or in the Diaspora – that is People of African Descent – to showcase their very own perspective on a given situation, a cultural event in their region, talk and discuss approaches of investments in their country or how...
Uganda: Netizens Show Support for National Team on Twitter, Facebook
The Ugandan national team will be in Angola this weekend to start their 2014 World Cup qualifiers. The match will take place on the same date Ugandans celebrate the Uganda Matyrs' Day. The Uganda Cranes almost made a historic comeback to the Africa Nations Cup tournament last year after 33 years. Using Twitter and Facebook, Uganda show their undying support for the Cranes:
Ethiopia: Land, History and Justice in Gambella
Land activists are using online petitions, Facebook and Twitter to campaign against land grabbing in Ethiopia. It is reported that villagers in Gambella province are forced to settle in state-designated villages to pave way for land grabbers. Gambella is the poorest region in Ethiopia.
Zambia Donates Five Million Litres of Fuel to Malawi
Years of diplomatic incidents between various major political figures of Malawi and Zambia, recently culminated in the Zambian donation of five million litres of fuel to Malawi. The gift was ostensibly for the funeral of the country's late President Bingu wa Mutharika, who died on April 5, after a heart attack. The political wrangling that has led up to this gesture, makes however, for a complicated backstory.
Uganda: Is Uganda Becoming a Monarchy?
Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has been in power since 1986. A few weeks ago, citizens started speculating about who will succeed the president if he does not stand for presidency in 2016. It is rumored that the president was supporting his wife Janet Museveni, the Minister for Karamoja Affairs, for succession.
Côte d'Ivoire: Controversy as Manager of National Football Team Replaced
Ivorians reacted with surprise and indignation following the shock announcement of a change at the head of the national football team. The controversial change was announced on May 28, 2012 by the Ivorian Football Federation. The inexperienced Sabri Lamouchi was named trainer and manager of the Côte d'Ivorian national A Team, replacing the successful François Zahoui.
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