Stories from Quick Reads and Comoros
Skype and Other Voice Over IP Banned in Comoros
Skype and other voice over IP that allows online phone conversation are now suspended in Comoros. The website Linfo.re reports [fr] : The state-owned company Comores Telecom just officially banned any type of voice over IP softwares, effectively blocking any kind of free online phone coversation for internet users in Comoros. The...
Attempted Coup d'Etat in Comoros
Comoros police forces state that they have arrested Congolese and Chadian mercenaries in an attempted coup over the week-end. Linfo.re adds that [fr]: Army commanders did not want to engage in an open conflict with the mercenaries. They believe that “any Comoran casualties over protecting an elite cast is itself a act...
Mayotte, Comoros: Tensions Rise After 36 Refugees Disappear at Sea
We cannot be part of the Indian Ocean Community and be indifferent to these tragedies. The solution must involve both countries Saïd Larifou reacts to the recent drowning [fr] of refugees trying to reach Mayotte by sea. Currently 36 are missing [fr] after their boat capsized as it approached Mayotte. M. Larifou warns...
Comoros: Women Barred from Public Beach for Religious Reasons
Women are no longer welcome at the beach of Itsandra-Mdjini [fr] reports Mlimadji in Comores-Actualités. He explains that city officials decided to ban women from the beach at the request of religious leaders. The beach is managed by the cultural association Twamaya and has historically been open to everyone without consideration of...
Mayotte: Capsizing Boat Kills at Least 5 Economic Refugees
Malango Actualité provides the social context [fr] related to the sinking of a boat that killed at least 5, including 3 children and an infant. The fishing boat was carrying 43 people from Comoros to the French territory of Mayotte. It is the third disaster of such kind in 2012 for Comoran...
Comoros: A Hub for Drug Trafficking?
The nomansland blog publishes a post [fr] stating: “Due to its geostrategic position and its socio-economic and political difficulties, the Comoros archipelago has become a hub for international drug trafficking to Europe and Indian Ocean”.
France: Violence Erupts in French Overseas Departement Mayotte
Violence has erupted during demonstrations against the rising cost of living in Mamoudzou, the capital city of the French overseas departement Mayotte, where one man has died and another is reported wounded [fr]. Events can be followed on Twitter via the #mayotte hashtag. Rue89 has published testimonies [fr] from Mayotte citizens, while Politis...
Comoros: Blog monitors Fuel Shortage in Anjouan
In his blog, Dafinemkomori documents fuel and power shortage [fr] in the Comoros. He explains that fuel shortage has greatly impacted greatly many other aspects of the economy on the island of Anjouan (rise of the price of tuna and power shortage).
Comoros: Reactions of the Comoran Community to Minister's Accusation
After the French Interior Ministry stated that Comorian Community is to blame for some of the violence in Marseille[fr], the governing body of the Comoros Union is denouncing such stigmatization of their community[fr], it encourages Comoran to stay calm and fight back violence only via legal means.
Comoros: Provisional Results of the Presidential Elections and Possible Fraud
Wongo's blog in Anjouan provides some provisional results (VP Ikililou Dhoinine projected with 65% of the votes) of the presidential elections currently taking place in Comoros (fr). Opposition claims that fraud has taken place in Anjouan though (fr).
Africa: African Merchants in Ancient China
Eccentric Yoruba discusses African merchants in ancient China: “In my previous post I mentioned that I had read somewhere that two slaves given as gifts to the a Chinese Emperor by an Arab delegation were the first Africans to enter ancient China.”
Comoros: A blog about development in Comoros
AlKomor is a blog “venturing a fresh perspective on new developments in Comoros.”
Moroni Blues, a Comorian musical comedy
Vola, a Malagasy blogger living in Paris, writes [Fr] about Moroni Blues, a musical comedy by Comorian writer, Soeuf Elbadawi, which explores love, cosmopolitanism, and ethnic division in the island nation's capital city.
Mayotte: Who Lives There?
Reunion Passion usually blogs on her homeland but recently she focused on nearby Indian Ocean French overseas department Mayotte (Fr): “Many cultures cohabitate in Mayotte, the first, of Comorian origin, constitutes 60% of the population, the second is Malagasy and is heavily influenced by the first and finally the French...
Indian Ocean: New Web 2.0 Cultural Site
Collective Malagasy blog Malagasy Miray announces (Fr): “Culture-océanindien [ www.culture-oceanindien.info ] is a space for cultural and islandness expression based on the web 2.0 principle. It was born out of the will to promote and support culture in general and more specifically that of the Indian Ocean. Many aspects of...
Madagascar: The First Indian Ocean Musical Network
El Sono Mondial announces that (Fr): “A seminar about financial management of cultural enterprises specializing in music (organized by the International Organization of La Francophonie) took place last week [in Madagascar] … The participants discussed creating the first Indian Ocean musical and cultural network.“
Africa: renewable technologies
Africa Unchained writes, “Karekezi, S…surveys (PDF) the dissemination of renewable technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa…and attempts to evaluate the potential for these technologies to meet the energy needs of Africa’s poor…“
Africa: Moving on from the digital indaba
Meskel Square on “Moving on from the Digital Indaba“: “Overall it was a huge success. One way of judging that is to look at all the discussions that are still carrying on in posts and comments and Technorati links. The discussions started with the race debate which I now wish...
Africa: Is the Battle against AIDS Lost?
Forum Realisance believes (Fr) former colonial powers and pharmaceutical companies are partially to blame for the AIDS crisis but saves harsher words for Africans and failed African leaders: ” Ignorance and illiteracy reproduce AIDS blindly without the least use for reason. Isn't it sacred and legitimate to protect oneself? Why...
Africa: Lessons Learned from Mittal Steel
Lessons drawn by Le Pangolin from the recent acquisition by Indian-owned steel company Mittal Steel of European-owned Arcelor (Fr): ” Economic actors of developing countries can really change the world if they are so inclined. (…) The West is not invincible.”
Africa: World Cup Report Card
Says Senegalese blogger Seckasysteme (Fr): “African football is not up to par and its presence in the World Cup is mostly symbolic. Too bad that the numerous individual African talents could not orchestrate a comeback. (…) Why couldn't such talented African football players achieve the same performance in their national...
