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 from January, 2014
Whistleblower Barrister Expelled for Denoucing Dictatorial Trends in Burundi
Isidore Rufyikiri, Barrister at the Bujumbura Court in Burundi has been expelled from the Bar Association for denouncing dictatorial practices by the regime in power [fr] : J'ai osé dénoncer ce que les autres n'osent pas dénoncer, à savoir la dérive vers l'instauration d'un régime dictatorial au Burundi et la...
Château-Rouge: A Prominent African Food Market in Paris
In order to find ingredients for African cuisine in Paris, the go-to place is still the Château-Rouge area located in the 18th District, specifically in the Rue Dejean street market [fr] that operates every day except Monday. The African Expatriate explains why the market is such a draw for many...
A Business Model Competition to Ignite Start Ups in Madagascar
Harinjaka, founder of the co-working space Habaka and Madagascar-based blogger, created the 2014 Antananarivo Start Up Cup [fr] whose objective is to select and support the best business ideas in Madagascar. He thinks that there is a bright future for entrepreneurship and innovation [fr] in Madagascar. Here is a poster for the event [fr] :...
Sports as a Vector of Peace in Burkina Faso
The National Department of Sports and Entertainment in Burkina Faso published a report on the role of sports as a vector of peace and development in Burkina Faso [PDF in fr]: Les programmes sportifs bien conçus renforcent les capacités humaines de base, créent des relations interpersonnelles et inculquent des valeurs...
INNOVATION: Containers as Student Housing at European Universities
In order to alleviate the lack of student housing available across Europe, a few universities in Denmark, Germany, France (Le Havre) [fr] and Spain have tried to turn containers into student dorms. Containers appear to be the structure of choice because they are less costly and readily adaptable to include the necessary amenities....
Supporting the Rights of Malian Youth to Education
Mali's education system faces multiple challenges, but activist groups are coming together to tackle them head on.
“Find and Support all the Mandelas in the Villages” for Reconciliation in the Central African Republic
Residents of Bangui were asked about the current escalation of violence in the Central African Republic. Here are some of their thoughts as collected by ATD Fourth World : It’s a question of dialogue, because there are two parties, the Seleka and the Anti-balaka. If there isn’t dialogue, it will...
Minister Stabbed to Death by Mob as Violence Escalates in Central African Republic
Several sources report that a Muslim minister was attacked and killed with knives by mob in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR) today (24/01). This recent twitter update by Peter Bouckaert, Emergency Director at Human Rights Watch confirms the identity of the minister: x-Patasse Min of Health welcomed and hosted Seleka when they...
3 Keys to Understanding Burkina Faso's Anti-President Compaoré Protests
On Saturday January 18th, widespread protests took place against constitutional reforms proposed by president Blaise Camporé. But what do the protests mean?
On Love, Politics and the Francophone Culture
France seemed to shrug at the news of French President François Hollande's affair with actress Julie Gayet. Are other French-speaking countries as relaxed in matters of love?
A Growing Job Market for Young People in Senegal: The Fishing Sector
To combat rampant youth unemployment in Senegal, a new initiative geared toward job creation in the fishing industry was created. Ibrahima Lô, one of the lead on the project, explains [fr] : Nous avons un déficit de personnel. Tous les deux ans, il peut y avoir un recrutement de volontaires....
How Protecting the Environment and Fighting Poverty Are Linked in Madagascar
Madagascar's disappearing ecosystem cannot sustain its population any longer. But solutions do exist.
The Worrisome Job Market Projection in Burkina Faso
The AFDB published its country report for Burkina Faso in which it highlights the worrisome job market trend [fr] for the next decade : Sept burkinabè sur dix ont moins de 30 ans. Le nombre de jeunes (15-24 ans), primo demandeurs d’emplois, doublera entre 2010 et 2030, passant de trois à six millions...
Catherine Samba-Panza, Mayor of Bangui, Elected as Transitional President of Central African Republic
After Michel Djotodia stepped down as president [fr] two weeks ago, the Central African Republic (CAR) Parliament elected Catherine Samba-Panza [fr], former mayor of Bangui, as the transitional president in charge of stabilizing the country until the next elections. Samba-Panza was recognized for her crisis management of the city during the rebels pillaging...
Massive Street Protests against Constitutional Reform in Burkina Faso
On January 18, thousands of Burkinabe citizens took to the streets of Ouagadougou [fr] to protest against proposed changes of the constitution that would allow current president Campaoré to run for another mandate. The protests were relayed on many Burkinabe twitter feed. Alain Boh Bi posted images of the protest: Jan18th,...
Remembering Congolese Leader Patrice Lumumba's Struggle Against Colonialism
Iconic freedom fighter Patrice Émery Lumumba was the first democratically elected prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was executed 53 years ago.
Two Opposite Arguments on Whether CAR Crisis is a Religious Conflict
Has the CAR Crisis Turned into a Religious Conflict ?
Job Market Trends in the Mobile Phone Industry of Côte d'Ivoire
Alain François Loukou, a research fellow and teacher at the Alassane Ouattara University in Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, wrote an extensive report on the evolution of IT in Côte d'Ivoire [fr]. He shares the following table on the recent evolution of the mobile phone market in his country in terms of mobile penetration, jobs, turnover...
Mauritius Tops Index of Economic Freedom Ranking in Africa
The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal published the latest Index of Economic Freedom and Mauritius ranks highest among African nations [fr]. It also ranks in the top ten worldwide. The index cites the following reasons for Mauritius high ranking: Efficient and transparent regulations underpin a dynamic entrepreneurial environment and...
How New Interim President Nguendet Can Bring Stability Back to CAR
After Michel Djotodia stepped down as interim president of the Central African Republic (CAR), Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet was selected as the new president of the national council of the transition. Philippe Hugon opines on what needs to be done to bring stability back to CAR [fr]: Il est très important...
Fighting Corruption in Comoros, Cameroon and Madagascar
The people of Comoros, Cameroon and Madagascar haven't got much faith in the honesty and integrity of the public sector, according to Transparency International's annual Corruption Perceptions Index.
