Latest posts by Jennifer Brea from May, 2007
King of Abdullah of Saudi Arabia Visits Morocco, Gets the Royal Treatment
Tunisien Doctor muses (Fr) about King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia's treatment duing his visit to Morocco: the hand-kissing, the woolen carpets strenching hundreds of meters to line the path of the king's motorcade.
France's New “Ministry of Nationalism and Expulsion”
Francophone blogger Et Si Nous Parlions has no love for French president Nicolas Sarkozy's new Ministry of Immigration, Integration, National Identity, and Co-Development. He prefers to call it the “Ministry of Nationalism and Expulsion” (Fr). The ministry's title suggests its broad-reaching ambitions. French human rights groups have criticized the ministry's...
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Bukavu, a city caught in the middle of many wars
Kakaluigi describes an apprehensive mood (Fr) in Bukavu, a city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bukavu was caught in the middle of fighting between Tutsi government forces and the Hutu that fled there after the Rwandan genocide, and later between Congolese government and rebel forces. Kakaluigi wonders whose...
The face of racism in Reunion
Rachiri Mayotte writes about racism in Reunion (Fr) as politics on the island move toward the right.
Central African Republic: Bangui International Human Rights Festival
The first Bangui International Human Rights Film Festival (Fr) starts on May 22 with the support of the French organization Alliance and the EU, writes the blog of the Alliance for Democracy and Progress.
Burundi: French Man Mistaken for a Cannibal
Bien Au Bout… shares the strange story of children who fled their schools en masse fearing they might be eaten [Fr] by a white man seen wandering in the forests outside their villages. Local rumor had it that Patrice Faye, a French naturalist and collector of endangered snakes with 30...
In Search of a Liberation Theology in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Blaise Mantoto at UDPS Liege argues the Congo's Christian revivalist churches encourage political disengagement [Fr] by interpreting “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's” to mean “leave politics to politicians, don't get involved.” Correction: Samy Musampa Batenababo was erroneously cited as the author of this post
Is Chad Ending its Official Use of Child Soldiers?
Prisma International writes that the Chadian government plans to discharge all child soldiers [Fr] currently serving in its army. A UNICEF investigation counted 400 children between the ages of eight and eleven among the ranks of Chad's armed forces.
Togo: Julie Akofka Akoussah, Diva of Togolese Music
Julie Akofka Akoussah, the “Diva” of Togolese music, said, “Music is in my blood. It allows me to communicate the joy that animates me to all of those whose hearts are suffering and who have lost their smile.” [Fr] She passed away in late April and will be buried this...
French Annexation of Tunisia: How to Remember History?
Tunisien Doctor explains why it is important [Fr] that Tunisians remember May 12, 1881, the day France annexed Tunisia, and asks why so many have forgotten. At least one reader thinks it's time to “turn the page on that brief chapter of our long history and move on to other...
Chirac More Bumbling Than Malevolent
As Jacques Chirac leaves office, Le Blog de [Moi] remembers the former French president [Fr] as “more bumbling than malevolent.”
Tunisia: No Ethical Training for Doctors
Zizou from Djerba explains that there is no ethical training in Tunisia for doctors [Fr] and other professionals. Although Zizou received a medical degree, he was never taught medical ethics. He wonders if there is a connection between weak ethics and corruption in Tunisia.
Guadeloupe Celebrates the Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery
Of all the festivities to celebrate the anniversary of the abolition of slavery, Guadeloupe Attitude was most impressed by the performance at the Victor Hugo Middle School of Saint-Yorre, which brought together the entire school community. Jean-Claude Haley links to photos.
Election Parallels: Nigeria, France, Mali
Sanaga Peregrinations compares and draws lessons from the recent Nigerian, French, and Malian elections [Fr].
Sarkozy, the “most gabonais of all French”
Reflecting on the French presidential elections [Fr], Don Ray of Le Blog de Don Ray comes away with three impressions: first, the election, with its record turnout, was proof of France's robust democracy; second, socialism in France is finished; and last, Sarkozy's presidency will do little to change France's policy...
The Lives of Africans in Germany
Le Pangolin links to several articles about the lives of Africans living in Germany [Fr] from La Gazette de Berlin, a French language bimonthly.
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