Cameroonian citizen living in Paris.
Holds a Postgraduate degree in International Law at the Sorbonne Law School, preparing the Bar exam. Aspiring lawyer, currently consultant in International Relations, interested in issues related to development and Governance in Africa, ICT4D.
Grew up in Moscow and worked at the International Organisation for Migration in Lao People's Democratic Republic.
Latest posts by Julie Owono
Cameroonians Aren't Happy With Le Monde's Coverage of Their President's Health
Cameroonians skewered the French newspaper's coverage, which reported that President Biya's trip to Europe was health-related. Some said it was an invasion of privacy or an attempt to destabilize Cameroon.
Exploring New Approaches For Poverty Reduction
The quest is on for solutions to poverty reduction with the approach of the 2015 deadline for the UN Millenium Development Goals (MDG). Many organizations are exploring new avenues for answers.
Central African Republic: How Strong Is The Peace Deal?
After a month of political and military instability, the Central African Republic government, led by President François Bozizé, and the rebel coalition Séléka signed a new peace deal in Libreville on January 11, 2013.
Togo: An Open Letter to Denounce Violence Against Journalists
On January 14, 2013, Maxime Domegni, Secretary General of the National Union of Independent Journalist of Togo (SYNJIT) and Sylvio Combey Combetey, President of the Network of African Journalists on Human Security and Peace (RAJOSEP) published [fr] a press release to denounce violence against journalists in Togo. The release details a skirmish...
Gay Man Lynched in Northern Cameroon
Oscarine Mbozo’a reports [fr] on L'Actu that one gay man and his companion were lynched at a market on January 6, 2013 in Maroua, Northern Cameroon : Goche Lamine, a medical merchant, was caught with a high school student named Sanda, aged 17. The crowd was alerted by a kid shouting...
Ivorian Blogger Questions Government's Response to Abidjan Stampede
Ivorian bloggers Mohamed Diaby and Cyriac Gbogou have been released from police custody. Both citizens, helped create a humanitarian platform to assist victims of the January 1, 2013 stampede in Abidjan. But on January 4, 2013, they were arrested after being accused of interfering with official disaster assistance efforts. Mohamed Diaby explains about the events that led to their arrests on his personal blog.
Who Wants to Overthrow Central African Republic President François Bozizé?
While an alliance of rebels named Seleka, is marching ahead towards Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), protests have been organized since December 26, 2012 asking for international intervention to stop the rebels' progress.
D.R. of Congo: Artists Sing Against War
As war is resuming in the Eastern part of Congo, with the takeover of Goma by M23 rebels, several Congolese artists decided to unite and sing against the war. The video was posted on popular singer Koffi Olomide‘s Youtube page: http://youtu.be/kQAgKodnGHU
A Legal Solution to Mob Justice in Nigeria?
On 5 October 2012, four students from the University of Port Harcourt were beaten and burnt to death for allegedly robbing a blackberry and a laptop. The brutal murder of these students has triggered debate and an online mobilization against mob justice in Nigeria.
Zimbabwe: Hashtag #263Chat to Crowdsource Opinions on Pressing Issues
Zimbabean blogger Sir Nigel introduces on his blog the hashtag #263Chat, an informal chat organised weekly on social network Twitter, to allow zimbabwean users to discuss pressing issues related to the country: Earlier this year, I suggested we organise a regular informal chat on Twitter regarding our beloved – Zimbabwe....
Mercenaries from Mali to Foment Unrest in Côte d'Ivoire?
A recent United Nations report claims that Côte d'Ivoire’s opposition is recruiting Islamists from Mali to destabilize the Ouattara government. But controversy surrounds the actual status and accuracy of the report’s findings.
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.
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.
Gabon: Civil Society Leaders Arrested Prior to New York Forum Africa
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,...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
