Latest posts by Claire Ulrich
France, Africa: Suitcases Filled with Cash Expose the Françafrique Connection
In the wake of the Dominique Strauss Kahn scandal, a new furore is now rocking France and the upcoming 2012 French presidential campaign. Robert Bourgi, a shady lawyer and advisor for "African affairs" has confessed to acting as a go-between for French politicians and Francophone Africa heads of state.
Mauritius: The First Rally of the “Outraged” Youth
Khal Torabully on Africultures analyses [fr] the emerging movement of “outraged” (indignés) youth in Mauritius, where their first demonstration[fr] took place on September 10. “What if this “digital 2.0″ movement heralded a genuine revolution, making room for a new political culture, and encouraging the country to reflect in a more modern...
Cameroon: Women Must Vote During Presidential Election
Le journal du Cameroun notes that “civil society organizations are rallying to encourage women to vote [fr] during the upcoming Cameroon presidential election, on October 9″.
Central African Republic: ‘Letter to the Person Sending Me Death Threats’
Central African Republic blogger, Blogmandebangos, has posted a letter to the person sending him death threats [fr] for his blogging: “The truth is that I just want to be the painter of my society, a good testimony, I only write about things that happen here…I talk about the daily life we all...
Africa, Latin America: A Portfolio on Black Minorities in South America
Afrique In Visu interviews French photographer Philippe Guionie about his latest photo essay “Les Afros oubliés de la Cordillière” [fr] (The forgotten Africans of the Andes). Guionie traveled to Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile to portray black minorities in South America.
Senegal: Grants for Pilgrimage to Mecca and Rome
Mamadou Sarr on assirou.net reveals [fr] how much money Senegal provides for pilgrimages: “The Senegalese government subsidizes the pilgrimage to Mecca to the tune of 1 billion 350 million CFA Francs [around 2.8 million USD] on years when no Christian pilgrimage to Rome is organised, and 1 billion CFA [around...
Nigeria: Two Satellites Launched
Wadr.org reports [fr] that ” Nigeria announced on Thursday that it had launched two satellites to monitor natural hazards, such as drought and floods, as well as to improve agriculture and security”.
Madagascar: Expectant Mothers, Beware
In an interesting post on “Fady” (cultural taboos) in traditional Malagasy society, blogger Ariniaina lists a few “do not” tips for pregnant women [fr], for example: “Do not carry fish in a basket on your head (and do not eat it) otherwise, your baby could grow scales on its skin”.
Guinea: Slow Blogging
After a year of blogging on blog platform Mondoblog, Sow shares [fr] how difficult it is to connect from his hometown in Guinea, located 500 km from the capital Conakry: “This country is plagued with a standard access to the Internet that breaks every record of slowness. If you add...
Somalia: Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan In Mogadishu
afrik.com reports [fr] on Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's visit in Mogadishu: “The prime minister, his wife Emine and other [Turkish] political and business leaders, as well as artists, are in Somalia to meet the victims of the drought and famine raging in the country.”
Vietnam: Blogger Pham Minh Hoang Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison
On August 10, 2011, Pham Minh Hoang, a math teacher and political blogger, has been sentenced to 3 years in prison and an additional 3 years of house arrest; he was charged with “attempt to overthrow the [vietnamese] goverment” reports Reporters Without Borders [fr]. Hoang, who has been in pre-trial...
Mauritania: Discrimination Plagues Census
adrar-info.net publishes an article on Mauritanian demonstrations in Paris and Mauritania, related to the current population census in Mauritania. Black Mauritanians apparently have a difficult time getting their name registered [fr]. According to Haimout Ba, the Paris based representative of UFP (Union of Forces of Progress, an opposition party), “they...
Togo: 8-Digit Telephone Numbers
Le blog de Toussine reminds readers that as of August 8, 2011, Togo telecom have switched [fr] to 8-digit landline and mobile telephone numbers. “A modification that requires updating contacts in Togo.”
Côte d'Ivoire: Abidjan in Mourning After Tragic Bus Accident
Friday, August 5, was a tragic day for the West African country of Côte d'Ivoire. A bus transporting passengers in the capital city Abidjan, plunged off a bridge into the Ebrié lagoon, killing 40 and injuring 9. The Ivorian government has decreed three days of national mourning as a mark of respect for the victims.
Senegal: Against a third term for President Wade
Macoumba Beye covers [fr] on afriscoop.net the demonstration organized in Dakar on July 23 against the candidature of President Abdoulaye Wade for a third term as President: “The Movement of June 23 – or M23 – brings together political parties, civil society movements, unions, imams and the movement “Y en...
Tunisia: A Crucial Decision for the Tunisian Net
Reporters without borders emphasize the importance of the appeal hearing due to start [fr] on July 4th, in a Tunis appeal court, against a court order to block porn sites. “Like many Tunisian netizens, Reporters Without Borders are worried that this decision marks the return of the censorship practices during the Ben...
Republic of Congo: Widows Demand Their Rights
minguabiango [fr] writes on congo-liberty about the cruel treatments and deprivation of their rights suffered by some widows in the Republic of Congo: “In Congo-Brazzaville, some widows are daring to prosecute their in‑laws and obtain compensation, sometimes with help from NGOs. They set a good example for all those women...
Guinea: “Democracy, Backwards”
Guinean novelist Tierno Monénembo, who won the French literary award Prix Renaudot in 2008, examines the early record of the new President of Guinea, Prof. Alpha Conde, writing [fr] in an opinion piece on Slate Afrique: “Beaten up and imprisoned at a whim. Nominated and dismissed at a whim. All...
Senegal: President Wade's Failure
Barka Ba writes [fr] on blog leral.net, about the constitutional amendment proposed by President Wade of Senegal: “Now, the emperor has no clothes. His gambling on an election reform, that would have allowed the president and vice-president to be elected with only 25% of the votes, and then personally pick...
Senegal: Power Shortages in Dakar Lead to More Riots
Website politicosn.com has provided real time coverage [fr] of the protests against power shortages in Dakar, Senegal, on June 28, 2011: “Ongoing demonstrations have flared up in Senegal capital, public buildings have been stormed by youth protesting against power shortages. This situation has forced authorities to call upon the army, security...
Syria: French Embassy Website Hacked
On Saturday, June 25, since at least 3PM GMT, the website of the French Embassy in Syria appears to have been hacked: anyone connecting to the French embassy website is automatically redirected to another site (http://th3pro.pro/fr/), where, to the tune of the Syrian national anthem, a message in French and...
Claire Ulrich's space
