· July, 2012

Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from July, 2012

Democratic Republic of Congo: Rwanda Accused in North Kivu Violence

  31 July 2012

Since April 2012, North Kivu province in the eastern Congo has been destabilised by the March 23 movement (M23), comprised of fighters from the Tutsi-led National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP). M23 continues to cause enormous loss of life and massive population displacement within the province.

Angola: Citizens Demand Transparent Electoral Campaign

  31 July 2012

Angola's civil society is urging more transparency [pt] on the preparation of the coming general elections scheduled for August 31, 2012. One of the initiatives recently launched is an online petition [pt] demanding the parties leaders to take part of live debates on TV.

Tanzania: Newspaper Shut Down by Government

  31 July 2012

On 30 July, the government of Tanzania banned indefinitely a popular weekly investigative newspaper called Mwanahalisi. Tanzanians received the news with great astonishment, although the same newspaper was previously banned for three months in 2008.

Togo: Preacher Transports 4.2 kg of Cocaine Hidden in Lollipops to Build Church

  31 July 2012

Togolese Preacher Woegna Yao Koufoualesse was caught at the Accra International Airport with  4.2 kg of Cocaine in a flight from Sao Paulo,  Afrique Infos reports [fr]. The drugs were hidden inside caramel lollipops; Koufoualesse argued that he did not know about the cocaine and that the lollipops were to be sold to help...

Guinea: The Plight of Guineans Students in Syria

  31 July 2012

Kante Taliby writes on Guinée News about the plight of Guinean students in Syria [fr] : “I am a Guinean student on scholarship in Syria and I am married with one child. My wife, my child and I have not had a proper meal for almost a week now, and...

South Africa: Celebrating First Gold Medal in 8 Years

  31 July 2012

Congratulations have been pouring in for South African swimmer Cameron van der Burgh who picked up South Africa's first gold medal after the country's dismal failures at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He is also South Africa's first male swimming Olympic gold medalist.

Ethiopia: Messages of Solidarity from Christians for Muslims

  31 July 2012

Messages of unity from Ethiopian Christians have gone viral in the Ethiopian digital public as Ethiopian Muslims persistently kept their peaceful protest in a bid to end government’s meddling in their religious affairs. A multitude of Christians have changed their Facebook status by announcing their allegiance with Ethiopian Muslims.

Mauritania: Diplomat Sets Himself Alight

A few minutes before Iftar, Hassan Ould Abba, a Mauritanian diplomat who used to work as an advisor at the Mauritanian Embassy in Kuwait, set himself alight in the district of Ksar, North of the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott. An ambulance rushed to rescue him, but he passed away upon arrival at hospital. Ahmed Ould Jedou summarizes online reactions.

Nigeria: Senate President Calls for Social Media Censorship

  30 July 2012

The President of Nigeria's Senate, David Mark, recently advocated clamping down on social media in the country arguing that there was no opportunity for retraction of information in such media. Many netizens perceive his comments as a declaration of battle on the Nigerian web.

Africa: Contemporary African Artistry Online

  28 July 2012

Usanii Afrika is a blog that showcases contemporary African artistry: “Usanii Afrika (meaning Artistry Africa in Swahili) is a blog born out of passion. Innately creative herself, blogger, Kirsty Macdonald has had a life long love affair with the arts and self expression.”

Africa: Speaking My Language

  28 July 2012

Read Ngugi wa Thiong’o's address at the 2012 Sunday Times Literary Awards in South Africa: “One of the basic, most fundamental means of individual and communal self realization is language. That’s why the right to language is a human right, like all the other rights, enshrined in the constitution. It’s...

Zambia: Pupils Expelled For Facebook Activities

  27 July 2012

Twenty one pupils at a secondary school in rural western Zambia have been expelled over vile messages against their teachers on Facebook. Meanwhile, ruling party boss wants Zambian citizen news website shut.

Nigeria: Rediscovering the ‘Osun-Oshogbo’ Sacred Groove

  27 July 2012

Train locals on the use of social media tools and they will tell their own stories, posits a Nigerian documentary producer Immanuel Afolabi while talking about his journey to the Osogbo Sacred Groove and the role of social media in reviving dying or invisible African religious practices.

London Olympics: Ambush Marketers Be Warned!

  26 July 2012

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) has taken stringent measures to try to ensure no ‘ambush marketing’ tactics are used during the London 2012 Olympics. A common feature at modern major sporting events, ambush marketers try to sneak in promotions of their brands and companies in front of the crowd and, most importantly, the TV cameras. Sports law bloggers and marketers posted their opinions on ambush marketing and the London Olympics.

Kenya: Schoolgirl Skirts-How Short is Too Short?

  26 July 2012

Kenyan Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo defense of schoolgirls who want the length of their skirts reduced has sparked a debate about culture, modernity and morality in Kenya. Kenyan media quoted the minister saying, "These girls do not want to be nuns; they want to be modern like Mutula!"

Ghana: President's Death Trends on Ghanaian Twittersphere

  25 July 2012

Ghanaian President John Atta Mills died on July 24, 2012. Ghanaians took to Twitter to express their shock and sadness. Tweets of the President’s death hit the social media site before many of the media houses officially confirmed it.

Madagascar: Three Soldiers Killed During Uprising in Military Barracks

  25 July 2012

Three soldiers were killed and four injured during a confrontation at Ivato barracks, Madagascar on Sunday July 22, 2012. This revolt took place shortly before a meeting between the interim leader Andry Rajoelina and ex-president Marc Ravalomananana, scheduled for July 24 in the Seychelles. This latest incident follows a pattern all too familiar to Malgasians as they ask themselves who benefits from the unrest that occurs before each attempt at mediation.

Kenya: Javelin Throwing Olympian Trains Using YouTube

  24 July 2012

There is something special about Kenyan javelin thrower Julius Yego who will represent Kenya during the London Olympics. Yego turned to social media for guidance. After using YouTube to hone his skills and techniques, Yego's record improved to 81.12 metres.

About our Sub-Saharan Africa coverage

Zita Zage
Zita Zage is the Anglophone Africa Editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.

Jean Sovon
Jean Sovon is the Francophone Africa. Editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.

Dércio Tsandzana
Dércio Tsandzana is the Lusophone (Portuguese) editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.