My area of interest is centered on francophone Africa, the status of minorities and immigrants in Europe & media biases. Raised in Madagascar, I hold a Master of Public Policy from Princeton University at the Woodrow Wilson School of International Affairs with a focus on international development & international relations and PhD in Medical Sciences from Purdue University. I can be found on twitter at twitter.com/lrakoto.
Latest posts by Lova Rakotomalala
Detention of Gaspard Glanz is a sign of France’s increasingly authoritarian treatment of journalists
The French government is increasingly using security and defense secrets as excuses for clamping down on journalists. The industry has pushed back.
#MySkirtMyRight: Women in Madagascar fight sexism and victim-shaming by the government
This incident is merely the catalyst that opens our eyes to the reality: In Malagasy society, violence against women is only the tip of the iceberg.
When Algeria makes headlines, French and English media report differently
French- and English-language media sources take different approaches to reporting on the Algerian political crisis.
Cameroonian justice minister rationalizes Holocaust on national television
The comments are distressing given how it feeds into the renewed reliance worldwide from far-right movements on the tired, racist trope that the Jewish community controls the finance world.
The Yellow Vest movement in France: What's at stake?
"Every time I read about the 'Yellow Vests' in the media, I feel like there is a lack of information, sources and perspectives on this complex topic."
Madagascar's land defenders call for a comprehensive framework to protect Malagasy rights
"It is crucial that these communities know that they are not alone in their fight and that other citizens support their cause."
In Madagascar, costly presidential campaigns don't add up to a better life for citizens
"One cannot expect clean politics which have been financed by corrupt money." The combination of secret financing and corruption is a real threat to the legitimacy of Madagascar's elections.
Madagascar citizens demand transparency in a fishy deal with China
The livelihoods of Madagascar’s coastal communities will be seriously threatened if they must compete with the potential catch capacity of these fishing boats.
Will a World Cup joke force France to have a necessary conversation about Africa?
"By calling them an African team it seems you are denying their Frenchness."
Simone Veil, the Immortal: A conversation with author Pascal Bresson on Veil's human rights legacy
"Beyond her image of rectitude and honesty, Simone Veil was, first and foremost, a woman who embodied her era and her struggle."
As Leaders Step Down, a Cautious Hope Rises on the African Continent
After the resignation of Zuma and Desalegn, "the mood on the continent is one of hope, on the one hand, and of palpable restraint and scepticism on the other."
#TogoDebout: Demonstrations Against President Gnassingbé Continue Despite International Indifference
A popular joke has been shared in Togo following the fall of Zimbabwe's President Mugabe: "We pray for Togo, and God answers in Zimbabwe".
Zanzibar’s Football Heroes Win Hearts Despite Loss to Kenya in CECAFA Cup
Zanzibar Heroes shocked everyone when they made it to the CACEFA Senior Challenge Cup finals against Kenya's Harambee Stars. They lost, but Zanzibar is still cheering for its heroes.
#FreeNganang: Cameroonian Writer Patrice Nganang Detained in a Maximum Security Prison in Yaoundé
Cameroon needs intellectuals resolutely committed to the service of the people, the oppressed. Those who sacrifice their times, their energy, their money, their families, their children, to build change.
Concerns over United States President Trump's Latest Controversial Foreign Policies Loom Large in Africa
"This is not a very diplomatic strategy. Then again, it is coming from a man whose vision and politics are limited by his lack of awareness about the outside world."
‘The Position of Women in Science Has Changed for the Better’, but ‘Is Still Far From Ideal’
"...tenured women scientists are not paid salaries comparable to their male counterparts. They are more frequently overlooked for promotions and administrative positions."
Conducting Medical Research in Africa: Opportunities and Misconceptions
"Due to the history of aid funding, every dollar spent is backed up by a dollar to ensure that fraud is minimised."
Simon Ateba Is Not Ahmed Abba, but He Too Has Experienced Persecution as a Journalist in Cameroon
Media outlets, including Global Voices, have mistakenly identified a photo of Simon Ateba as Ahmed Abba. Both are journalists whose reporting on Boko Haram got them into trouble in Cameroon.
History Repeats Itself, Violently, in Burkina Faso
"Every time, they come to kill our brothers. Those are two restaurants beloved of Burkinabe that have been targeted."
A Young Engineer From Niger Is Taking on Industrial Air Pollution With His Invention
The T-shaped device captures the CO2-containing heavy substances from the fumes via an affinity-based chemical assay that binds CO2 particles.
I Dread Setting Foot on U.S. Soil While Trump is President
Visiting the U.S. now "would mean having to overcome too much frustration over how the country I used to know has changed."
