Latest posts by Rhita Boufelliga
France: Mandatory Car Driver Breathalyzers in Bid to Reduce Accidents
Starting from July 1 2012, every vehicle driver in France has had to carry a breathalyzer. This measure is aimed at diminishing the number of accidents caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol.
Cameroon: 5th International Festival of Fulani Arts and Tradition
The Bilitol fulfude association is organizing the 5th international festival of Fulani arts and tradition [fr] from December 8th to December 11th 2011. The festival will take place at Yagoua, a region of the far east Cameroon. The program has scheduled the following events: “educational discussions, […] traditional games, traditional...
Cameroon : African Women Football Champions disappointed with the Delay in Prize Payouts
On cameroun.football.fr, Guy Roger Obama noted [Fr]: “The day after their qualification for the 30th Olympiad «London 2012», Michèle Madeleine Ngono Mani's (team captain) teammates were not pleased with the delayed payment of the remaining balance of the monetary prize they received for winning the gold medal at the 10th...
Lebanon: Story of a Migrant House Keeper, Georgette
To mark Labor Day, the non-governmental organisation Migrant Workers Task Force has published a video, in which Georgette, a house keeper from Benin working in Lebanon, relates her experiences and speaks of the changes she would like to see in migrants’ working conditions.
May 11, 1981: 30 Years Ago, Bob Marley and François Mitterrand
“François Mitterrand and Bob Marley, united for eternity on May 11th 1981″, [fr] is a post on the blog Calédosphère commemorating the 30th anniversary of the passing of the “God of Reggae”, Bob Marley, and the election of former French President François Mitterrand. Bob Marley fans can visit the blog [fr]...
Mali: First Edition of “HIV-Aids Foot” Soccer Event
The first edition of the “Sida Foot” (HIV-Aids Foot) event will take place in Bamako from June 17 to June 19, 2011, and will be attended by soccer stars. The blog xibar.net writes [fr], “this festival has a special meaning because the year 2011 coincides with 30 years since the...
Algeria: Rachad Movement Website No Longer Censored; Radio Kalima Still Is
Blocked by the Algerian government on January 1, 2010, without motive or prior notice, the website of the Rachad Movement rachad.org [fr] is once again accessible in Algeria. Now, only the Radio Kalima site kalimadz.com [fr] continues to be censored. The Rachad Movement filed a complaint on May 11, 2010, with the...
France, Japan: Debating President Sarkozy's Visit to Japan
When French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited Japan on March 31, 2011, less than three weeks after the earthquake and tsunami that caused a nuclear emergency, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan is reported to have said: "When it rains, a friend who comes is a true friend". Bloggers ask if Nicolas Sarkozy really came to visit out of friendship alone.
Côte d'Ivoire: Where is Gbagbo's General, Philippe Magou?
Monday March 14, 2011, was a busy day in Côte d'Ivoire. After violence this past weekend in the Abobo district of southerly economic capital Abidjan, Ivorians in the city were woken up by Kalashnikovs and heavy artillery. For a few days now, the rumors in Abidjan have been growing as to Ivorian army General Philippe Mangou's responsibility in this crisis.
Guinea: Miss Guinea France 2011 Speaks Out against Excision
Interviewed by Mrs Nenette Baldé on the blog nenehawa.com, Binta Diallo, the winner of Miss Guinea France 2011, thinks [Fr] that: “The worst is that little Guinean girls associate excision with purity and believe that this is what will make them honorable, exceptional women. That's why I evoked the risks...
Togo: The Regime facing the Media
Bernard Bokodjin wrote [Fr] on his blog pambazuka.org: “In a country where the opposition is not strong enough [yet] nor well structured to counterweigh a repressive regime that violates the principles of democracy and good governance, the press remains one of the spaces where freedom of expression can counter the...
Mali : Internet and African languages
For the International Mother Language Day [Fr], Boukary Konaté [Fr], a French language Global Voices contributor, held a conference on “Internet and African languages”. The presentation [Fr] is on the blog “Toujours pas sages” [Fr].
Senegal: March 19, National Day of Action
The winds of revolt are blowing across the Maghreb and the Middle East. Political opponents in Senegal are also getting in on the action by expressing their discontent at their government's misguided ways. March 19, 2011, has been chosen as the date to organize demonstrations in the country.
Côte d’Ivoire: Abandoning the CFA?
Papa Keita [fr] wrote on the Dakar Bondy blog [fr] :” Isolated by the International community and by the Uemoa, Gbagbo continues to play tricks. His entourage is stirring up the launch of Ivory Coast's own currency, and even worse – this would mean leaving the UEMOA, which encompasses some West African...
Are Sub-Saharan Mercenaries Fighting for Gaddafi?
From the very first days of the 2011 Libyan uprising, there has been talk of foreign mercenaries, both from Sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe, within long-standing leader Colonel Gaddafi's commando units. Explanations and opinions from the African blogosphere are presented here.
Senegal: Relocation of polluting industries
Papa Mamadou Diéry Diallo [Fr] wrote in pressafrik.com: “On February 22nd 2011, Abdoulaye Baldé, the Minister of Mines, Industry and agro-Industry, visited factories in the suburbs of Dakar and announced the relocation of some polluting industries in some districts of Dakar for the neighboring populations to breathe better.”
Africa: Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou
Boukari Ouédraogo wrote [Fr] on his blog: ” The 22nd edition of the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou will take place in Ouagadougou from February 26th to March 5th. This year's theme is “African Cinema and Markets.”
Guinea: The First Blogcamp in Conakry
The first Guinean blogcamp took place February 2nd at the Press House in Coléah, a suburb of Conakry. In a nation striving for a national dialogue after tumultuous years of political strife, ICT might play an important role in building consensus.
Chad: Contested Parliamentary Elections, Protesters in the Streets
On February 16th 2011, Makaila published [Fr]: “many opposition militants gathered in multiple districts around the city of Moundou to protest against the results of the parliamentary elections [on February 13th].”
Equatorial Guinea: Mr Obiang, New Chairperson of the African Union and Human Rights Abuser
On January 30, 2011, the African Union elected Mr Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo as its new chairperson, succeeding Malawian President Mr Bingu wa Mutharika. However, the long-standing president of Equatorial Guinea has a record for human rights abuses.
Côte d’Ivoire: About Gbagbo's Pan-Africanism
With the death anniversary of Patrice Lumumba and Gbagbo's Pan-Africanist speech, many started likening both men to the fathers of Pan-Africanism. It happens that Laurent Gbagbo himself compares himself to Robert Mugabe. Many Internet users and thinkers have reacted on this subject. Anna Gueye offers us an overview of the history behind it and the contents of the debate:
