Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from July, 2012
Mauritania: Military Plane Crashes Killing Seven
On July 12, 2012, a Mauritanian military plane crashed in Nouakchott airport. The accident took the life of 3 soldiers (among them one officer) as well as two custom officials, in addition to two contract security guards working on the behalf of the Canadian company. Netizens had their say about the incident. Here is a collection of reactions by Ahmed Jeddou.
Northern Mali: Resistance in the Streets and Online
Northern Mali has been de facto cut off from its central government since the Tuareg rebels then the Islamists drove the army out of their territory. On the ground, tension is rising. Women were the first to go out on the streets and in all the northern cities, the young have taken up protest.
Madagascar: Will Air France Jet Purchases Really Help Air Madagascar?
The year 2011 saw Air Madagascar being banned from flying to European destinations due to the airline failing to comply with security regulations. The transition government had been celebrating the purchase of two Air France Airbus A340s with great fanfare, yet multiple questions have been since been raised over the purchase.
Zambia: African Union Leaves Liberation Hero Out of Honors’ List
When Zambia’s foreign minister Given Lubinda went to Ethiopia to attend the African Union summit , he was shocked to discover that the country’s first president, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, was not among the continent’s prominent personalities who have been honoured at the new AU headquarters in Addis Ababa. Zambian netizens have reacted to the omission with mixed feelings.
Mali: Media Workers to Strike in Protest of Journalist Kidnapping
Saouti Haïdara, the 62 year old director of Malian newspaper L’Indépendant, was recently kidnapped by men wearing balaclavas, beaten, then abandoned on a road. This is the latest incident in weeks of arrests and intimidation of media professionals in Mali following the military coup in March 2012.
Sudan: Women Targeted as #SudanRevolts Enters Second Month
This Friday paying tribute to the revolutionary women (Kandaka) of Sudan's past, women chanted for the fall of the regime and demanded release of political detainees. Many were tear-gassed and arrested. The day came to be known as 'Kandaka Friday.'
Ethiopia: Muslim Protest Gaining Momentum
Ethiopian police resorted to physical violence against Muslim activists, transgressing sacred places in their mosques, the Muslim activist Facebook group, Dimtsachin Yisema (Let Our Voice Be Heard), reports. Since May, Ethiopian Muslims have been protesting the government’s meddling in their religious affairs.
Ethiopia: Online Reactions to Prison Sentence for Dissident Blogger
Five days before his arrest, prominent Ethiopian dissident blogger Eskinder Nega wrote, “Freedom is partial to no race. Freedom has no religion. Freedom favors no ethnicity. Freedom discriminates not between rich and poor countries. Inevitably freedom will overwhelm Ethiopia."
Mauritania: Anger at Foreign Minister's Support for Assad
In his speech at the Friends of Syria conference on July 6, the Mauritanian foreign minister Hamadi Ould Hamadi described what was happening in Syria as "violence and counterviolence". This comment was considered to be an expression of support for Bashar Al Assad's regime, and angered activists.
Ethiopia: Where is Meles Zenawi?
Rumors about the health and whereabouts of Ethiopia’s Prime Minster Meles Zenawi have dominated the Ethiopian social media sphere for weeks. Netizens have been sharing their thoughts about the rumors wondering why this story has been overlooked by the mainstream media.
Zambia: Police Thwart Xenophobic Attacks Against Congolese Traders
The Zambian law enforcement agencies prevented what could have been deadly retaliatory and xenophobic attacks on neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo citizens living in Zambia following the burning to death of a Zambian driver in the border Congolese town of Kasumbalesa.
DR of Congo: Controversial Sentence for Thomas Lubanga
On 10 July, the International Criminal Court convicted Congolese Thomas Lubanga Dyilo to 14 years in prison. He was found guilty of war crimes for having recruited and enrolled children under 15-years-old. Congolese bloggers lament over the restrained sentence.
Video: Worldwide One-Minute Environmental Film Contest Accepting Submissions
The 3rd Edition of the Tve Biomovies 1 minute environmental film competition has begun. Anyone above the age of 9 with a camera and an idea for a 1 minute video on environmental topics can participate to win a $300 award to produce their video and then compete to win a grand prize of $1500 and participation in the UN COP 18 Conference in November.
Togo: Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo Resigns Ahead of the Elections
The Republic of Togo blog reports [fr] that Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo resigned on July 11 to officially allow all political parties to be represented in the new government ahead of...
Mozambique: Has Social Media Killed Blogging?
On a short series of posts, professor Carlos Serra writes about some of the reasons why Mozambique's blogsphere is fading away. One reader comments that blogging requires a load of...
Africa: Social Media Skills for African Youth With Disabilities
African youth with disability around the continent took part in a social media workshop in Dakar, Senegal early this month. The workshop was organized by Disability Right Initiative and Open Society Foundation, Haute Haiku reports.
Uganda: Remembering the 2010 Bomb Blasts
Ugandans have taken to Twitter and Facebook to remember the 2010 victims of bomb blasts at Kyaddondo Rugby Club and Ethiopian Village bar in Kampala Uganda. The attacks took place when soccer fans were watching the World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands in South Africa.
South Sudan: One Year After Becoming World's Newest Nation
South Sudanese have just celebrated their first anniversary of independence. South Sudan's independence was declared on 9 July, 2011 when it became world’s newest country. This is a roundup of blog posts written to mark one year of independence from Sudan.
Sudan: Blogger Recounts Three Days of Interrogation
“Take a good look at the window, this will be the last time you ever see the sun.” Sudanese blogger and Global Voices author Maha Elsanosi vividly describes her three days of interrogation at the National Intelligence and Security Services, after being arrested in Sudan.
Mozambique: Innovative Ways of Producing and Distributing News
Johannes Myburgh shared on Twitter the Mozambique Media Landscape guide, which he helped produce with Infosaid media project. Radio is considered the country's “most important channel of communication”, but...
Uganda: Nodding Disease Denying Children Their Future
James Propa shares photos and YouTube videos of the effects of nodding disease in Uganda. Nodding disease is a mentally and physically disabling disease that mostly affects children. It is currently restricted to small regions in South Sudan, Tanzania and northern Uganda.
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