Stories from and

2015 Presents an Opportunity for Free and Fair Elections in Africa

  18 February 2015

Wekesa Sylvanus hopes that 2015 will be a year of free and fair elections in Africa: https://wekesasylvanus.wordpress.com/2015/02/18/will-2015-be-a-year-of-free-and-fair-elections-in-africa/ Since the advent of multi party democracy in Africa, electoral contests have become a do or die affair in majority of African countries. Elections in Africa are a high risk affair and in...

A 80 Year-long Wait: Niger Gets its First Train Station

  9 April 2014

On April 7, Niger inaugurated in the capital Niamey its first train station ever [fr]. The authorities already projected the construction of the train station 80 years ago but the project never took off. The event will kick start the construction of railroads between Niger, Benin, Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire....

One Third of Pregnancies Are Unintended in Burkina Faso

  27 February 2014

Social Researchers at L’Institut supérieur des sciences de la population (High Institute of Population Science) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso published a report entitled “Grossesses non désirées et avortements au Burkina : causes et conséquences” (The causes and consequences of Unintended Pregnancies and Abortions in Burkina Faso). The report highlights a few...

Sports as a Vector of Peace in Burkina Faso

  29 January 2014

The National Department of Sports and Entertainment in Burkina Faso published a report on the role of sports as a vector of peace and development in Burkina Faso [PDF in fr]: Les programmes sportifs bien conçus renforcent les capacités humaines de base, créent des relations interpersonnelles et inculquent des valeurs...

The Worrisome Job Market Projection in Burkina Faso

  22 January 2014

The AFDB published its country report for Burkina Faso in which it highlights the worrisome job market trend [fr] for the next decade :  Sept burkinabè sur dix ont moins de 30 ans. Le nombre de jeunes (15-24 ans), primo demandeurs d’emplois, doublera entre 2010 et 2030, passant de trois à six millions...

Massive Street Protests against Constitutional Reform in Burkina Faso

  20 January 2014

On January 18, thousands of Burkinabe citizens took to the streets of Ouagadougou [fr] to protest against proposed changes of the constitution that would allow current president Campaoré to run for another mandate. The protests were relayed on many Burkinabe twitter feed. Alain Boh Bi posted images of the protest: Jan18th,...

Mass Resignations Within the Ruling Party of Burkina Faso

  6 January 2014

Morin Yamongba reports that 75 members (including former ministers) of the ruling party in Burkina Faso, Le Congrès pour la démocratie et le progrès (Congress for democracy and progress) have left the party to join the opposition [fr] because of alleged lack of plurality within the party. They also oppose...

Massive Railway Project between Niamey and Cotonou Underway

  19 November 2013

A 1,500 km-long railway project between Niamey, the capital city of Niger and Cotonou, the capital city of Benin has been green lighted by the authorities of the two countries and construction will begin on March 2014 [fr].  Francois Ndiaye in Niamey unpacks the set up of the financial agreement [fr] that includes...

Assassination Attempt Against Burkina Faso President

  3 September 2013

Romuald Tuina (also spelled Tuyna) an ex-deserted soldier was killed after he opened fire  [fr] on the office of the president of Burkina Faso Blaise Campaoré, Mathieu Somda reports. Tuina was in uniform when he tried to enter the presidential palace. He then shot the light down in the palace by firing...

Tchip: The “Shaking My Head” Meme from Africa

  6 August 2013

Nadéra Bouazza explains what being “tchippée” [fr] means for french speaking black communities. Tchip is the sound one makes when he/she disapproves of the behavior/action of someone else (roughly similar to the “shaking my head” internet slang). The “Tchip” sound is used across most black communities and has become an internet meme:  

African Cinema Honored at Film Festival

Boukari Ouédraogo wrote [fr] about the 23rd Pan-African Film Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO, Festival Panafricain du Cinéma de Ouagadougou).  The festival took place from February 23 to March 2, 2013: What I did notice is that African filmmakers are true messengers, real educators, historians, storytellers, etc. They speak directly to...

Burkina Faso, Niger: Cholera Kills 80 after Floods

  14 September 2012

Bark Biiga writes on Fasozine [fr] that  following the floods that plagued Niger and Burkina Faso, 80 people have succumbed to Cholera in the Western Region of Niger. The disease also threatens to spread into neighboring Burkina Faso.

Africa: African Perspectives Online

  3 June 2012

African Perspectives is an online platform for Africans on the continent or in the Diaspora – that is People of African Descent – to showcase their very own perspective on a given situation, a cultural event in their region, talk and discuss approaches of investments in their country or how...