Latest posts by Jennifer Brea from July, 2007
Fighting HIV/AIDS in ‘post-Islamist’ Sudan
Despite the challenges of preventing the spread of HIV in what remains a deeply conservative society, a Tunisian blogger working in Sudan's national AIDS prevention program observes a growing openness to once-taboo ideas.
Tunisian blogger on AKP victory in Turkey's legislative elections
Of the AKP victory in Turkey tunisiendoctor writes (Fr): “Goodbye to secular military dictatorship in Turkey and best of luck to a democratic, and perhaps even European, Turkey.”
Togolese blogger contemplates self-publishing
In a world where editors balk at taking risks, Reve d'Afrique examines the possibilities and perils of self-publishing (Fr).
Alain Mabanckou on Prostitution in Brazzaville
Alain Mabanckou posts “Night scenes in Brazzaville” (Fr), a sketch on young prostitutes and their European customers. “The atmosphere of the country surely helps. Would they find such an opportunity in their own country? …Money excuses everything…”
Congo-Brazzaville: Point Noire music festival
Congopages on a recent music festival in Point Noire (Fr), Congo Brazzaville. There are photos!
Congo-Brazzaville: Pygmies housed in Brazzaville zoo
Vous reprendrez un peu d'humanisme? continues to question France's commitment to human rights, given its warm relations with Denis Sassou-Nguesso, and cites the shocking revelation that pygmy musicians were being housed in the Brazzaville zoo (Fr).
France: Protest against BNP & Denis Sassou-Nguesso
Congopage announces a demonstration (Fr) set to take place Saturday, July 28 in front of the offices of BNP-PARIBAS, Paris to protest the French oil giant's alleged involvement in Congo-Brazzaville's President, Denis Sassou-Nguesso's theft of millions of dollars of public funds. Sarkozy and Sassou-Nguesso are quite cozy.
Chad: Opposition party on Deby's visit to France
Parti Liberal du Tchad posts their official response (Fr) to Idriss Deby's recent visit to France.
France: Elderly Central African Republic immigrant faces expulsion
The blog of Alliance Pour La Democratie et Le Progres posts an article (Fr) about the impending expulsion of an infirm, 68 year-old illegal immigrant from Central African Republic whose children and grandchildren all reside in France.
Cameroon: Yes your majesty
Parler Camerounais compares (Fr) the leaders of Cameroon, and their “bulimia” of meaningless titles and honors, to the royal family in Eddie Murphy's 1998 hit, Coming to America.
Benin: Debating, feting Voodoo
Benninese blogger Blaise Aplogan writes about the upcoming festival of Voodoo, set to take place in Paris this week, and the ongoing Voodoo debate (Fr): “More and more, prophetic religions, notably Christianity, are investing in a dialogue with traditional African religions…[and] traditional African religious leaders are asking themselves what meaning...
Cameroon: Poetry Anthology
Fojrega writes about a new anthology featuring the works of fifteen Cameroonese poets.
Senegal: Do we elect kings now?
Blog politique du Senegal writes of Karim Wade, the President's son, and his intention to run for president (Fr): “In theory, Karim Wade [has the right to] run for president, like any other Senegalese” but “the privileged, not to mention abusive, position that Karim Wade occupies in the state apparatus...
Sudan: Flooding in Khartoum
Zizou from Djerba has photographs of heavy flooding this weekend in Khartoum.
Benin: Independence celebrations moved to capital of Dahomey
Babilown writes about the decision to move independence celebrations (Fr) to Abomey, capital of the historic kingdom of Dahomey.
DR Congo: London protest march photos
Le renouveau congolais has photos of a recent protest march in London, including one of a beaming man carrying a poster that reads: “I want to kill Kabila myself.”
France suffers African dictators: Denis Sassou-Nguesso warmly welcomed by Sarkozy
France is famous for getting cozy with the dictators who govern their former colonies, a tradition called Françafrique that newly-elected French president Nicolas Sarkozy appears keen to continue. In March, he received Omar Bongo, President of Gabon since 1967. And last week he played host to Denis Sassou-Nguesso, President of...
Rwanda: Foreign aid workers who live like kings
Foreign aid workers in Africa and elsewhere are often criticized for living far removed from the populations they are supposed to serve. How can people who spend their time zipping around in air-conditioned SUVs, tinted windows rolled to the top to shut out the noise and the dust and the people hope to be effective, the argument goes. Les aventures du Civiliste Guillaume wades through Rwanda's alphabet soup, writing about the legion of aid and relief agencies station in the country and finding reasons both to criticize and defend those who have come to help.
Togo: Government funding for political parties
Togo-iTunes posts an article about a new law for financing political parties (Fr). Any of Togo's nearly 80 political parties that have received at least five percent of the vote in legislative elections, five seats in the National Assembly, or 10% in local elections will be eligible for government funding.
Tunisia: Blogger meetup
Tunisien Doctor writes about a recent meetup of fifteen bloggers that went down in Tunis this weekend. A map was drawn. There were games involved (Fr).
Can Haitians tackle drugs and corruption?
Last week, Haitian president René Préval declared before the leaders of the fifteen member countries of CARICOM and President George Bush that fighting corruption and drugs were his government's top priorities. Collectif-haiti-de-provence is not so certain of his resolve--or that of the Haitian people.