Global Voices

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The world is talking, are you listening?

Jolome News notes that the International Federation of Journalists has denounced the sentencing of Ms. Berthe Cakpossa to three months in prison and a fine of 500.000 francs CFA (the equivalent of $1,000 US) for insulting Boni Yayi, the Head of State. Ms. Cakpossa is the director of a private television chain, Channel 3. The channel broadcast Mr. Lionel Agbo's press conference, who was a former technical advisor to the Head of State. He has made accusations relating to those close to the president. The blog notes that [fr]:

In a democracy, it is not the role of the Press to censor the comments of political players.

You can now call him Doctor Teodoro Obiang  Nguema Mbasogo.

MyGab.Tv reports that [fr] the Univesité internationale du Bénin UPIB is now called Teodoro Obiang  Nguema Mbasogo University after the Equatoguinean dictator. Teodoro Obiang  Nguema Mbasogo has been the benefactor of many schools in Benin [fr] and has received a doctorate degree Honoris Causa from the university at the inauguration ceremony.

Logo of the Afripedia project, a project to provide offline access to wikimedia projects for Francophone Africa;  CC license-3.0

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Round table on volunteer holidays in Benin by Youphil with permission

Youphil writes [fr] about a project driven by Espace Volontariats du Bénin and supported by France Volontaires that promotes volunteer holidays in Porto Novo and Sô-Ava. The project will help experts share their knowledge in fields such as accounting, communication, ICT & project management with local NGOs.

Justin Yarga reacts [fr] to the statement issued by the government of Benin on  alleged large-scale terrorist plots and planned national strikes [fr] to destabilize the country.  A state of emergency has been declared [fr] but many wonder whether such measures are justified.

Dr. Leonard Wantchekon  introduced the African School of Economics ASE at the World Bank on June 14. The campus will be located in the city of Akassato in Abomey-Calavi (Benin), near Cotonou.  The goal of the school is to “to address the dearth of quality tertiary education, cutting-edge research, and innovative public policy in Africa by creating an incubator of qualified business leaders and social scientists.” 360 students [fr] are expected when ASE opens in 2014 and academic partnerships with CIDE in Mexico, Sciences Po, France and Princeton University, USA among others are projected.