Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from November, 2012
Zambia's Intelligence Agency Rates Watchdog Website as “Most Influential”
Citizen news website, Zambian Watchdog, has received "endorsement” from the most unlikely source, the Zambia Security and Intelligence Service better known as the Office of the President (OP), which has described it as the most influential news source in the country due to its critical stance of the current government.
Guinea-Bissau: More citizen frustration with turmoil
Buala blog shared a message circulating via email by Moema Parente Augel e Johannes Augel [Pt] raising international awareness about the “abusive and illegal regime” in Guinea-Bissau and what they deem to be an attempted counter-coup on October 21. IT specialist Gabriel Vaz also shared his dissatisfaction with turmoil in his...
Coalition of African Nations Agrees to Send 3,300 Soldiers a year to Northern Mali
Seven African nations of ECOWAS namely Nigeria, Senegal, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Togo have agreed with Malian government [fr] to send 3,300 soldiers a year to Northern Mali to take back control of northern Mali from Islamist fighters. Other nations outside the ECOWAS might also send in troops.
French Government Eases Strict Immigration Policy
French Interior Minister Manuel Valls, during a speech in Toulouse in southwestern France, expressed his desire to change his country's immigration policy, amending the naturalization requirements and, in particular, doing away with the multiple choice tests and the need to have signed a permanent employment contract. Here is a summary of the reactions to these new measures.
Sudan: Nuba Mountains Activist Detained for 8 Months
In the middle of the night on 14 March 2012, the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) abducted a woman named Jalila Khamis Kuku from her home and took her into custody. Denied access to a lawyer and even a change of clothes, Jalila was dragged into a pickup truck in her night gown accompanied by a dozen NISS officers in civilian clothes.
More Camps to Accommodate Detained Asylum Seekers in Israel
In June 2012 Israel began implementing the amendment to the Anti-Infiltration Law according to which all asylum seekers who cross the Israel-Egypt border are automatically jailed for a minimum period of three years without trial. Citizens of ‘enemy states' (such as Sudan) are jailed indefinitely. Elizabeth Tsurkov shares blog reactions as more prison camps are erected to receive the influx of refugees.
Concern over Subterranean Water in the Sahel
We are told that miners do everything to waterproof the soil and ensure that waste does not contaminate subterranean water. But it must be recognized that there is always a risk, as they can never be completely sure that they are not contaminating subterranean pools. Moreover, with the impact of...
Senegal: Ensuring Efficient Telephone Use by the Government
Aliou Fama reveals [fr] that Macky Sall, President of Senegal, has decided to put the members of his goverment on a strict regime, in order to reduce government telephone bills: Ministers’ telephone credit is now capped at 500 000 FCFA (EUR 762,25), with that of technical advisers limited to 150...
Racism in European Football: Will New Rules Help?
October 2012 has seen racism rear its ugly head again, mainly in the European Leagues, especially in England affecting both the Premier League clubs and players as well as the national team. Many have wondered whether the major football bodies UEFA and FIFA will act as some have been trying to do like the Football Association (FA) in England.
A Legal Solution to Mob Justice in Nigeria?
On 5 October 2012, four students from the University of Port Harcourt were beaten and burnt to death for allegedly robbing a blackberry and a laptop. The brutal murder of these students has triggered debate and an online mobilization against mob justice in Nigeria.
Guinea-Bissau: Chinese Loggers near Buba River
The minutes of a youth and citizenship meeting held in October 2012 in Guinea-Bissau mentions [pt] the “massive logging of pau de sangue” woodtrees (Pterocarpus violaceus Vog.) by Chinese companies in the region. The post stresses the lack of information and “the silence of local and national authorities”. Novas da Guiné...
A New Start for Barack Obama in Africa?
Following the November 6, 2012, re-election of Barack Obama as President of the United States, Africa questions his legacy after four years in charge of an America more concerned with the economic crisis than by its international relations, especially those within the African continent. The expectations of Africans were high, however many believe that a second term for Obama will allow him greater manouevrability on African issues.
Zimbabwe: Hashtag #263Chat to Crowdsource Opinions on Pressing Issues
Zimbabean blogger Sir Nigel introduces on his blog the hashtag #263Chat, an informal chat organised weekly on social network Twitter, to allow zimbabwean users to discuss pressing issues related to the country: Earlier this year, I suggested we organise a regular informal chat on Twitter regarding our beloved – Zimbabwe....
Ugandan Prime Minister Interacts on Twitter Using #AskthePM
#AskthePM is a hashtag created for online users to interact with the Prime Minister of Uganda, Amama Mbabazi. The fourth #AskthePM took place on 27 October, 2012. Tweets by Ugandan netizens show deep division over the structure and the significance of #AskthePM.
Banks Shut Down to Protest Insecurity in Madagascar
Bill on Madagascar Tribune reports that [fr] banks will close for one afternoon on November 6 to protest the lack of security in Madagascar. Last week, a branch of Accès Banque was robbed of 502 millions Ariary in the borough of Andraharo, Antananarivo (The capital city of Madagascar).
Cameroonian Twitter Users Celebrate Biya's 30 years Anniversary with Sarcasm
“@JeanYvesMorio [fr]: November 6, 1982, I woke up without running water nor electricity. November 6 2012, I woke up without running water nor electricity #30anssansmourir ,!–more–> On Twitter, Cameroonian Jean Yves Morio makes light of the fact that president Paul Biya has been in power for thirty years to this day and yet...
A Mauritanian Blogging Week Against Foreign Mining
For a week, Mauritanian bloggers took part in a campaign entitled "Against foreign mining companies." Ahmed Ben Jedou shares with us blog posts and tweets from the campaign, which aimed at exposing the financial, environment, humanitarian and health toll of those companies.
Tennis Superstars Venus and Serena Williams Visit Nigeria
The Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, were in Nigeria from October 30 to November 2, 2012. Their visit was at the behest of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club’s "Breaking The Mould Initiative" (BTM). Naturally, their arrival stirred debate in the Nigerian blogosphere.
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