Latest posts by Julie Owono
Cameroon: Essayist and Blogger Arrested and Charged with Robbery
Enoh Meyomesse, a Cameroonian writer and blogger, was arrested on November 22, 2011, at Nsimalen airport in Yaoundé, Cameroon on his way back from Singapore. Charged with robbery by the military court of Bertoua, in the north of the country, he is now detained at Nkondengui prison in Yaoundé.
Cameroon: Violent Clashes Between Motorbike Taxi Drivers and Douala Citizens
On December 31, 2011 in the popular district of Deido in Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon, riots broke out between the inhabitants of the district and motorbike taxi drivers, also know as "benskiners". Here are testimonies and videos from local bloggers.
D.R. of Congo: Congolese Diaspora Erupts Against Kabila
While the DR of Congo awaits the final tally of the presidential and parliamentary elections, the Congolese Diaspora, although not allowed to vote, has shown its commitment to making its voice heard. Julie Owono reports.
Gabon's UNESCO Bailout: International Solidarity at What Price?
Ali Bongo, President of Gabon, has agreed to offer $2 million USD to UNESCO, following the launch of an emergency fund to compensate for the loss of funding from the United States and Israel. Activists in this oil-rich Central African nation urge the public to look beyond the announcement.
Gabon: Bongo Indulges With Football Match Against Brazil
The Brazilian national football team came to Libreville, Gabon for a friendlly football match against the Gabonese national team on November 10. The social challenges the team witnessed are in stark contrast with the spending habits of the current Gabonese President Ali Bongo.
France: Satirical Magazine's Office Burnt Down After Mocking Sharia
During the night of November 2, the Paris head office of satirical French weekly Charlie Hebdo was attacked and burnt down. This happened on the same day an issue of the long established French weekly featuring the Prophet Muhammad as guest editor on its cover, was about to hit newsstands.
France: New Visa Restrictions for Foreign University Graduates
France has taken a legal step which makes it more difficult for foreign students who have graduated from French universities to work on French territory and thus change their student visa permit into a working visa. Julie Owono reports on reactions to the new immigration rules.
Cameroon: French Politician Denounces Irregularities in the Cameroonian Election
Eva Joly, the green party candidate for the French 2012 presidential election, denounced on her blog the re-election of Paul Biya, Cameroon incumbent president. She points out that even the usually prudent US State Department expressed strong reserves with the electoral process. She is surprised that the French Ministry of...
Cameroon : The First Lady Fake Twitter Account
Journalist Beaugas-Orain Djoyoum writes an article entitled ‘The Saucy Chantal Biya‘ [fr] in the Cameroonian IT news portal TIC Mag. He describes the typical updates that can be found on the popular fake Twitter account of the Cameroonian First Lady.
Cameroon: Election Irregularities Noted by US Ambassador in Yaoundé
Robert Jackson, the United States (US) Ambassador in Cameroon, stated in a declaration made public by AFP [fr] that US observers of the October 9, 2011, presidential election noted “irregularities at every level” of the electoral process, and “technical difficulties by Elecam [Cameroonian Electoral Commission] in its management of the...
Cameroon: Biya Tipped to Win After Temporary Results Are Leaked
Weekly newspaper Le Messager has published a leak of Cameroon's temporary presidential election results in an article, which tips current incumbent Paul Biya to win. Julie Owono reports on netizens' reactions and the fear of post-election violence.
Cameroon: Diaspora Fail to Participate in Elections
Seven million Cameroonian voters were called to elect their next president on October 9, 2011. However, the question of the abstention seems to be the great winner of this ballot, in particular that of Cameroonians living abroad. Julie Owono reports.
Cameroon: Controversies Around the Electoral Campaign
The Central African Republic of Cameroon has entered the last week of the presidential campaign. While international election monitors arrived in the country to observe the elections, the electoral campaign activities failed to convince most Cameroonians of the importance of what is at stake.
Cameroon: Calm Before the Storm?
Cameroon's presidential election will take place on October 9, but the lack of stake in the outcome felt by the general population is leading to a lack of interest. The threat of post-election violence and ethnic tension is also hanging over the country.
Cameroon: Attempted Mutiny in the Economic Capital?
Cameroon-Info [fr] reports that gunfire broke out in the morning of September 29, 2011, on the Wouri Bridge in Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon. Website Koaci.com [fr] reports that it was an attempted military mutiny and adds that the Special Units of the army were deployed. Reuters talks about “uniformed gun men”. A...
Republic of Congo: Is the New ‘Made In Africa’ Tablet Actually Chinese?
A new ‘made in Africa' tablet computer from the Republic of Congo was announced in June 2011 to much fanfare. While technical innovation in Africa is worth celebrating, it's worth double-checking whether the new VMK tablet is actually designed, developed and engineered in Congo as advertised.
Cameroon: Anti-Corruption Application Developed
Hervé Djia, a Cameroonian E-entrepreneur, introduced on his Twitter account [fr] the Android Application he has created: NoBakchich [fr]. The tool intends to fight against corruption by allowing users to report any case of bribery witnessed. Using crowdsourcing, NoBakchich will also enable users to give information regarding administrative procedures and associated...
Togo: Fragile Truce Emerges After Five Weeks of Student Protests
West African country Togo's students' struggle for better education conditions is now in its fifth week and despite a recent truce, tensions remains high in the capital Lomé. Amongst the students' demands for better education conditions, are an increase in and payment of their grants.
Republic of Congo: Local Company To Produce First African Android Tablet
VMK, a Congolese company, announced via its CEO Verone Mankou‘s Twitter account, that it will produce the first Android tablet made in Africa. Tech Central magazine interviewed Verone Mankou, showing a picture of the back of the tablet. More pictures are available on the VMK Blog [fr]. An official introduction will be...
France-Senegal: Anti-Wade Demonstrators Arrested by French Police
Senegal is eight months from its presidential elections in February 2012. The country's civil society has already protested against various attempts by the incumbent president, 85 year-old Abdoulaye Wade, to hold on to power.
Africa: ‘Foreign Policy Twitterati 100′ Ignoring Africans ?
Following Forein Policy Magazine article on the 2011 ‘Twitterati 100′, blogger Pernille Bærendtsen posted an article: ‘THE FP TWITTERATI 100′ – WHERE ARE THE AFRICANS?’. The author notes that among the 100 listed, only two are Africans (President of Rwanda @Paul Kagame and Ugandan journalist @AndrewMwenda). @DambisaMoyo, Zambian author and...
