News website Koaci.com [fr] reports that Marc Ona Essangui, of the civil society organisation ‘Ca suffit comme ça’ (Enough is enough) and other Gabonese activists were arrested this morning in the capital Libreville. They were planning to hold a ‘Forum of the indignants‘ [fr] to counter the New York Forum Africa, held in Libreville from June 8 to 10, 2012, where business and political leaders will discuss the development of the continent. Jean-Eric Nziengui Mangala, spokesman of the Minister of Interior, explains to AFP [fr] that the demonstration was forbidden.
Latest posts by Julie Owono
31 August 2012
Mali: Can Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb Be Stopped?
The solution to the Mali crisis seems to be vanishing as time goes by. It has been five months now that the country has been divided into two parts. Julie Owono explores the current situation in the Sahel region.
6 July 2012
A Weak African Union for 53 Member States
2011 was a tumultuous year for the African continent with revolutions, attempted coups and violent political crises. Unfortunately the union of 53 African states that has as its mission to help strengthen regional peace and development has proved its own shortcomings in dealing with these situations.
7 June 2012
Cameroon: Electric Dreams for Development by 2035
Cameroon hopes to reach the status of emerging market by 2035 through a series of “great achievements” in transport and energy infrastructure development. It's a deadline that fails to convince many commentators, if only because the challenges are so great.
9 May 2012
Africa: Will Local Content Policies Help Avert the Oil Curse?
In recent years, major reserves of oil have been discovered at various locations across Africa. This 'black gold' may represent an opportunity for economic growth, but the fear shared by experts and Sub-Saharan Africa citizens is that the windfall may not benefit local populations at all.
18 April 2012
Sweden: Culture Minister in ‘Racist Cake’ Art Controversy
The Swedish Culture Minister's tasting of the controversial 'Painful Cake', representing the body of an African woman, at an art exhibition preview in Stockholm has provoked online reactions over alleged racism. Julie Owono reports.
5 March 2012
Republic Of Congo: After the Blasts, Anger and Solidarity
One day after the March 4 blasts in the ammunition depot in Mpila near Brazzaville, the time has come to assess the number of victims. Recent assessments vary from 150 to at least 200 people killed and 1,500 wounded.
4 March 2012
Republic of Congo: Ammunition Depot Blasts Stir Panic in Brazzaville
On Sunday, March 4, 2012, at 8 am local time, an ammunition storage caught fire in the Mpida area of Brazzaville, near the Presidential Palace, causing at least four explosions. Houses in the neighborhood collapsed, creating an atmosphere of panic in the city.
24 February 2012

Cameroon : Say No To Tribalism
Princess Akeelah talks on her blog [fr] about an online campaign launched to fight against Tribalism in Cameroon. In a country where it is estimated that 280 different ethnic groups live together, she explains that this diversity is a wealth and should be “the foundation of a National Union”.
3 February 2012
Côte d'Ivoire: Hackers Threaten Intelligence Agency Upon Arrest of Journalist
Managing editor of newspaper Le Patriote, Charles Sanga, was arrested by the Ivorian intelligence agency, DTS, following a controversial story about the constitutional court of Côte d'Ivoire. The next day, anonymous hackers threatened to leak confidential documents of the agency if he was not released.































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Hi, "Black Heart." Not sure I follow your meaning. Is your second sentence paraphrasing the...
What? A persons private sexual preference is unacceptable (who cares, and why would you)...