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Part short history, part interview of Robert Bourgi, Smith's article on Francafrique is a reminder we await a good English history of Francafriqe. A little noted aspect of the Pax Francia: "Between 1960 and 1990, 40,000 people are believed to have died as a result of internecine violence in French Africa, half of them in Chad; by comparison, roughly two million died in former British Africa, another two million in former Belgian Africa, 1.2 million in the former Portuguese colonies and another million in the residual category that includes Ethiopia, Somalia, Liberia and Equatorial Guinea. A different indicator, which corrects for demographic imbalances, confirms the value of the pax franca: the number of ‘victims of repression or massacres’ is put at 35 per 10,000 inhabitants in ex-French Africa, 790 in postcolonial Anglophone Africa, 3000 in the Belgian Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, and a staggering 4000 in the Portuguese colonies, which didn’t achieve independence until the mid-1970s."
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Former military ruler of the Central African Republic André Kolingba, who overthrew the French installed David Dacko in 1981, died at age 74. In Paris, of course. His RDC remains a small player, but his major contribution was to bring his numerically tiny Yakoma from the far Southeast into dominance in Army and — to a lesser extent — government. While ethnic conflict has always existed in the area, and the M'Baka previously controlled most governments, Kolingba's brutal and extreme ethnic policy created a previously unknown "north-south" division which remains. In raw numbers killed and imprisoned, the first years of Kolingba's rule were worse than Bokassa's. In later years, under foreign pressure, he agreed to a constitution and 'elections', but backed out in 1992, canceling elections at the last minute. It took the cut off of foreign funding (the money they pay for a free hand taking the CAR's resources) to kick him out in 1993. In 2001, he tried another coup which failed.
testing
links for 2010-02-08
Posted by on 8 February 2010 | 0 Comments
links for 2010-02-05
Posted by on 5 February 2010 | 0 Comments-
Worth Re-reading after the recent Jos riots. From chapter 3 of "The Wretched of the Earth" (1961) :: "African unity … crumbles into regionalism inside the hollow shell of nationality itself… Inside a single nation, religion splits up the people into different spiritual communities, all of them kept up and stiffened by colonialism and its instruments. Totally unexpected events break out here and there. In regions where Catholicism or Protestantism predominates, we see the Moslem minorities flinging themselves with unaccustomed ardour into their devotions. The Islamic feast days are revived, and the Moslem religion defends itself inch by inch against the violent absolutism of the Catholic faith. Ministers of state are heard to say for the benefit of certain individuals that if they are not content they have only to go to Cairo. Sometimes American Protestantism transplants its anti-Catholic prejudices into African soil, and keeps up tribal rivalries through religion."
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An interesting article by Hima in Niamey's opposition "Roue de l’Histoire" alleges that opposition politicians approached Wade to intervene during the recent AU summit in Ethiopia. It claims that when Wade arrived in Niamey in a much publicized mediation in the Niger crisis, the man the Senegalese President described to the press as "Mon ami Tandja Mamadou" refused to even meet him. Tandja said in a recent Hausa language broadcast that "The ECOWAS team knows that the only person mandated to meet with me is Le Général [ECOWAS mediator AbdulSalami Abubakar]". Government reporting on the AU summit (which had unofficial Niger reps only) from Le Sahel was headed by an insightful story titled "SEM. Ali Badjo Gamatié brilliantly defended the political situation in Niger, which has been accepted by the Conference". But when Tandja gets the chance to butter up a REAL power broker, he blows it. What good can come from the resumed Abubakar mediation, and what will ECOWAS do when it fails?
links for 2010-02-04
Posted by on 4 February 2010 | 0 Comments Footy. Cheats, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Heartbreak, Ireland, Soccer, South Africa, Thierry Henry, Tony Cascarino, and World Cup.links for 2010-02-03
Posted by on 3 February 2010 | 0 Comments-
Feb 3rd's L’ACTUALITE (Niamey) publishes a fascinating (and completely unverified) rumor, under the title "Chaude dispute entre Nouhou Arzika et Gamatié?" Nouhou Arzika, the firey uber-nationalist protest leader who has become President Tandja's most vehement supporter, is reportedly in Morocco. The press claims he's been there in hospital for the past week, after bursting into a closed meeting being held by technocrat PM Ali Badjio Gamatié and other regime officials. The rumor continues that the PM's guards then beat Arzika to the point he ended with a dislocated jaw and head trauma. As these two are seen to represent the two poles of Tandja's new regime, the rumors are clearly inspired by the fate of Guinea's Dadis Camara (who was shot and shipped to Morocco to recover/retire) and Sekouba Konate who now runs Conakry. That alone should make us suspicious. What this really tells us is how personalized and feudal the politics of Niger has become, a Kremlin in Niamey.
links for 2010-02-02
Posted by on 2 February 2010 | 0 Comments-
Commandant Claude Pivi, former anti-Conte coup leader turned well paid coup suppressor, turned Liberian militia leader, turned enforcer of the early days of the CNDD military government, now believes in democracy. Observers have long pinned the Minister for the Presidential Guard (one of two "red beret" units) as the last military power broker opposed to Gen. Sékouba Konaté. Pivi, famous for rumors of cannibalism (false and probably self generated) and appearing laden in Malinke gris-gris fetishes and ammunition belts, was interviewed by RFI after a long silence.
"If even I am not retained as a government minister, I must return to the barracks. … It is time that the army lines up on the side of democracy." Speaking of his allegiance to General Konate, Pivi said "I am absolutely loyal to General Konate. … There's no reason for public concern, [Army] discipline will get back to moving in the right direction." -
The Togolese electoral commission delivered one more advantage to President Faure Gnassingbé in the 28 Feb. election. Kofi Yamgnane has been eliminated due to "birth certificate irregularities". For those keeping count, this is the second opposition front runner and the fourth candidate overall to be removed from the race: opposition titan Gilchrist Olympio (UFC) by health problems (Togo requires a physical for candidates. Really). And while the son of the late president for life Gnassingbé didn't even bother to show up for his RPT party's convention, he was chosen as their candidate. With the election rules changed to single round voting the top candidate of the now seven man field can be elected without a majority of votes. While former PM Abgéyomé Kodjo (OBUTS) is still running, the RPT can surely manage the %20-%30 needed to resume family rule as usual, and get the "democratic" certifications Togo needs to disappear from scrutiny. Did we mention Togo's newfound offshore oil?
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Ouartta weighs in via la Patriote
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This is more like it. Three or four more such signings this summer, and the Bhoys will have a side. "Keane, a lifelong Celtic fan, has made 25 appearances for Spurs this season but has recently been confined to the substitutes' bench."It's a good move. He is a Celtic man," Redknapp said of the switch for the Republic international team's captain and all-time top scorer with 41 goals in almost 100 games. "
links for 2010-02-01
Posted by on 1 February 2010 | 0 Comments-
Koptpo a la pate d'arachide / La Salade a la Nigerienne / Brabusko : Couscous de mil / Touwo Labchi : "Pate" de mil ou de sorgho / Waké da Chinkafa : Niébé et Riz / Souroundou : Riz au gras Dan waké : boule de niébé / Waïna : crèpe de mil ou de riz / Kossey : beignet de niébé / Tsala : beignets de mil Malkou : Tète de mouton en sauce / A hatché : tripes à la zindéroise / Fankassou : larges galettes de blé / La cuisson du riz
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The link above is to the "FODEM" website, the political wing of the CPJP rebels, used as Charles Massi's 2008 attempt to mimic president Bozize, and slingshot himself into power on the backs of an unrelated regionalist rebel group (the CPJP). They announced that Massi had been seized by Chad at a border post and turned over to the CAR, who tortured him to death shortly thereafter. Despite repeated strenuous denials at the time (and the utter brutal idiocy of it) this report have finally been confirmed by the CAR government.
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A surprising admission from President Bozizé of the CAR. Charles Massi was a Minister under both Patassé and Bozizé, in 2008 left political life to become the respectable front on the northeastern CPJP. When I first saw report in the CAR expat press and on the CPJP website around Xmas saying he was "kidnapped in Chad and turned over to the CAR", I assumed this was infighting or overreaction. I was wrong. Sometime around January 9, Massi was tortured to death by the CAR government in Bossembele prison. This might mark a real turning point for Bozizé, who earlier denied the CAR had taken Massi. And with the return to the CAR of Patassé, he and the broader opposition have seized upon Massi in death (whom they didn't care for in life) as a powerful symbol of Bozizé's failure to embrace anything resembling democracy. Elections are scheduled later this year and the opposition is largely allowed to speak. Will Bozizé allow that to continue if all hands turn against him? I doubt it.
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Finally, some movement! Kamara is a Senegalese international who started his career playing for Red Star in Paris. "Celtic have signed Fulham striker Diomansy Kamara and Dutch left-back Edson Braafheid from Bayern Munich on loan until the end of the season. Braafheid, who has five caps for the Netherlands, has been signed to bolster the defence. Kamara, 29, has played more than 40 times for Senegal, scoring nine goals, and played under Celtic manager Tony Mowbray when at West Brom. Paris-born Kamara has started just five league games for Fulham this season, scoring once, and struck against CSKA Sofia in the Europa League. His first English club was Portsmouth, who he joined after playing for Red Star 93, Catanzaro and Modena. A move to West Brom was followed by a switch to Craven Cottage and he made his debut for the club against Arsenal in August 2007. The following summer he suffered a cruciate ligament injury while playing for Senegal, then made his comeback in February 2009."
links for 2010-01-31
Posted by on 31 January 2010 | 0 Comments-
From the crucial "Pitch Invasion" world football blog: "Can anyone offer a serious defense for this decision? We like to look past the obvious reaction here, but I can’t think of much more to say about CAF’s insensitivity here, expect that it’s remarkable they couldn’t even wait for the dust to settle on the tournament and the brutal attack on Togo before laying down the hammer on a still grieving team."
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I came across references to Niger PM Ali Badjo Gamatié as "l'homme du PSOP et LAP" A 2007 article explains this 2006 scandal, which brought down Hama Amadou, and for which the press continues to point fingers at then FM Badjo Gamatié. He got off free, blaming Hama, who was falling out with President Tandja at the time. This 2005-2007 period, I think, will be remembered as a crucial turning point in the modern history of Niger, in which pluralistic corruption cleaved to a single pole ::
''Notre adversaire n’était pas l’Etat du Niger, mais plutôt le Premier ministre Hama Amadou dont nous avons mis en cause la gestion que nous avons d’ailleurs l’habitude de mettre en cause depuis…les "Psop et les Lap" (Paiement sans ordonnancement préalable et sans lettre d’autorisation de paiement. Il s’agit de l’affaire de deux pratiques de paiement utilisées abusivement par le gouvernement en l’absence de tout respect des procédures en la matière) qui nous avait déjà conduits en prison en 2003.'' -
In contrast to the recent Crisis Group report ("Central African Republic: Keeping the Dialogue Alive" ICG Africa Briefing N°69 12 January 2010) this IMF report paints a generally positive portrait of the CAR. Specifically, the IMF praises debt repayment, internal taxation, and financial "reform" (i.e. free market access for outsiders and cuts in public services, which the IMF calls "prudent macroeconomic policy"). Of course, these changes may only be sustainable at a time of political calm and initial foreign investment in extractive contracts. Neither of these situations is likely to last. For the possibility of the first, see the ICG report. It seems the IMF's vision of a successful CAR is the stable – read undemocratic – rentier state exemplified by Omar Bongo's Gabon.
links for 2010-01-30
Posted by on 30 January 2010 | 0 Comments-
According to several different press sources, this drug deal gone bad caused the tit for tat kidnapping of the Patriarch of the Kounta Arabs, released after 5 days and intensive central government involvement. Tilemsi (Bourem) based Berberich Arab smugglers came into conflict over a drug shipment with local Kounta and Ifoghas Tuareg. One of the Kounta leaders engaged in a shootout with the Tilemsi smugglers at Bouraïssa on 31 December, leaving two dead. In revenge, the smugglers kidnapped the Kounta patriarch, who is also a commune mayor and vice president of the Kidal region council for the RPM party. :: The summary is that political, tribal and ethnic conflict are in a heightened state in northern Mali, with communities are awash in drug money and heavily armed from the recent Tuareg insurgency. "Deux groupes de narcotrafiquants s’affrontent à Bouraïssa :2 morts, 2 véhicules détruits, 10 tonnes de drogue emportées" 05/01/2010, 22 Septembre (Bamako), Chahana Takiou.
links for 2010-01-29
Posted by on 29 January 2010 | 0 Comments-
According to several different press sources, this drug deal gone bad caused the tit for tat kidnapping of the Patriarch of the Kounta Arabs, released after 5 days and intensive central government involvement. Tilemsi (Bourem) based Berberich Arab smugglers came into conflict over a drug shipment with local Kounta and Ifoghas Tuareg. One of the Kounta leaders engaged in a shootout with the Tilemsi smugglers at Bouraïssa on 31 December, leaving two dead. In revenge, the smugglers kidnapped the Kounta patriarch, who is also a commune mayor and vice president of the Kidal region council for the RPM party. :: The summary is that political, tribal and ethnic conflict are in a heightened state in northern Mali, with communities are awash in drug money and heavily armed from the recent Tuareg insurgency. "Deux groupes de narcotrafiquants s’affrontent à Bouraïssa :2 morts, 2 véhicules détruits, 10 tonnes de drogue emportées" 05/01/2010, 22 Septembre (Bamako), Chahana Takiou.
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Temoust reprints a VERY important story I missed: the 88 year old "patriarch" of the Kounta Arabs was kidnapped on January 22nd, but released unharmed on the 28th. Baba Ould Sidi El Moctar is mayor of Anéfis commune (Kidal), head of the Anéfis Kounta tribe, but also the paramount leader of all Malian Kountas, an Arab speaking Berber nomad tribe, once rulers of Timbuktu and renowned as both Muslim scholars and political/trade kingpins. They have at times been in conflict with the "Maure" Arab speakers and the many Tuareg tribes of the Sahara. This story alleges that a son of Baba Ould Sidi El Moctar was in conflict with Maure smugglers transiting through Kidal, and they kidnapped the Kounta leader in retaliation. He was released five days later (unharmed) but in Gao, far from his, and most other Kountas home. Other Kounta groups call the area around Timbuktu, and southeast to Bourem, home. If this account (this report has some troubling errors) is true, there will be repercussions.
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Niger: Emerging literature and modern orature. Tydskrif vir Letterkunde 42 (2). An Afrikkans/English (and in this case, French) language literature publication from the University of Pretoria. Some interesting articles available to download
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From One.org ' ' As the renowned development economist Paul Collier writes in his book The Bottom Billion: "Aid does have serious problems, and more especially serious limitations. [...] 'But it is part of the solution rather than part of the problem." Dead Aid makes a number of claims about aid; the key claims are repeated below, along with related facts that didn't make it into the book. ' '
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Ayouba Karimou in OPINIONS N° 99 of 24 January has a second piece following the purchase of 720 prefabricated school classrooms purchased by the Nigerien government from a Chinese supplier. While l'Opinions first complained that the 10 Million CFA franc cost each (~15k euros) was excessive, and carried out without needed checks, they now present documents which they claim show the government only charged the state 15k euros a piece. The invoice from the Chinese was 5.7k Euros a piece, delivered. The paper points to a missing total of almost 6.7 million Euros gone missing in the transaction. And this is quite apart from the fact that Nigerien children need qualified teachers and school supplies (even food) much more than they need prefab school buildings.
links for 2010-01-28
Posted by on 28 January 2010 | 0 Comments-
Ayouba Karimou in OPINIONS N° 99 of 24 January has a second piece following the purchase of 720 prefabricated school classrooms purchased by the Nigerien government from a Chinese supplier. While l'Opinions first complained that the 10 Million CFA franc cost each (~15k euros) was excessive, and carried out without needed checks, they now present documents which they claim show the government only charged the state 15k euros a piece. The invoice from the Chinese was 5.7k Euros a piece, delivered. The paper points to a missing total of almost 6.7 million Euros gone missing in the transaction. And this is quite apart from the fact that Nigerien children need qualified teachers and school supplies (even food) much more than they need prefab school buildings.
links for 2010-01-27
Posted by on 27 January 2010 | 0 Comments-
Toxic Haiti and Dems Demise in Mass. – Socialist WebZine, January 27, 2010
* Dumping Ground of the Caribbean: Haiti and Toxic Waste
* Day Three in Port-au-Prince: "A difficult situation"
* Urgency and Opportunity in the Debate to Define “Change”
* Great Television/Bad Journalism: Media Failures in Haiti Coverage
* International Labor Radio Station to be Launched
* Commemorating Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Born January 27 1756 -
A nice review of Richard H. King, Dan Stone, eds. Hannah Arendt and the Uses of History: Imperialism, Nationalism, Race and Genocide. New York Berghahn Books, (2007). A fascinating examination of imperialism in Arendt's writing. ''… in the post-totalitarian world that is marked with genocides in Srebrenica and Rwanda, this collection offers a brilliant illustration of the richness of Arendt's thinking and its relevance to our present political world. The collection deals particularly with the often neglected dimension of Arendt's political theory: the "boomerang" thesis according to which colonialism and imperialism had supplemented totalitarianism with its cultural and political foundations. ''
The Socialist WebZine – January 27, 2010
Posted by on 27 January 2010 | 0 Comments
Toxic Haiti and Dems Demise in Mass. - Socialist WebZine, January 27, 2010
* Dumping Ground of the Caribbean: Haiti and Toxic Waste
* Day Three in Port-au-Prince: "A difficult situation"
* Urgency and Opportunity in the Debate to Define “Change”
* Great Television/Bad Journalism: Media Failures in Haiti Coverage
* International Labor Radio Station to be Launched
* Commemorating Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Born January 27 1756
Footy. Cheats, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Heartbreak, Ireland, Soccer, South Africa, Thierry Henry, Tony Cascarino, and World Cup.
‘Hannah Arendt as a Historical Thinker’ (H-Net Review)
Posted by on 27 January 2010 | 0 Comments
A nice review of Richard H. King, Dan Stone, eds. Hannah Arendt and the Uses of History: Imperialism, Nationalism, Race and Genocide. New York Berghahn Books, (2007). A fascinating examination of imperialism in Arendt's writing. ''... in the post-totalitarian world that is marked with genocides in Srebrenica and Rwanda, this collection offers a brilliant illustration of the richness of Arendt's thinking and its relevance to our present political world. The collection deals particularly with the often neglected dimension of Arendt's political theory: the "boomerang" thesis according to which colonialism and imperialism had supplemented totalitarianism with its cultural and political foundations. ''
Footy. Cheats, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Heartbreak, Ireland, Soccer, South Africa, Thierry Henry, Tony Cascarino, and World Cup.
The Louverture Project, a free Haitian history resource
Posted by on 25 January 2010 | 0 Comments
The Louverture Project (TLP) collects and promotes knowledge, analysis, and understanding of the Haitian revolution of 1791–1804. This unique history project follows the example of Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, and is committed to creating a vast, accessible, and useful open content resource. Like Wikipedia, The Louverture Project is built and maintained by a community of users, all of whom have access to and responsibility for editing the 454 pages (and growing) currently online.
Footy. Cheats, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Heartbreak, Ireland, Soccer, South Africa, Thierry Henry, Tony Cascarino, and World Cup.
Ghana’s Earthquake Scare
Posted by on 22 January 2010 | 0 Comments
Someone began a text message earthquake scare on the 18th in Ghana, causing panic amongst thousands. Ghana's National Security agency has vowed to get to the bottom of the rumors, which claimed the BBC was reporting that NASA had told them a quake was about to hit Ghana. Of course no one, especially the US Space Agency, can predict earthquakes. Finger pointing has ensued, with the NDC party blaming rival NPP activists of starting the scare to divert attention from the ongoing NDC national congress. But the attention gained from Haiti has stirred both wide charity work by Ghanaians and a look at their own readiness. Ghana has recorded major quakes back to the 1600s, with a 6.3 quake hitting in 1939. Small tremors have hit as recently as 2005. Yet the Ghana Geological Survey Department reports it's only seismographs are broken: one in Accra, installed in 1988, broke down two years ago while the one at Kukurantumi, fixed in 1923 is said to have gone out of order many years ago.
Footy. Cheats, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Heartbreak, Ireland, Soccer, South Africa, Thierry Henry, Tony Cascarino, and World Cup.
Niger: is the government trying to annex the ANDP Zaman Lahiya?
Posted by on 22 January 2010 | 0 Comments
Le Corrier of 21 January reports "Tentative de «tazartchisation » de l’ANDP: Amadou Bagnou pris la main dans le sac". They bring us up to date on the just ended congress on the ANDP Zaman Lahiya, party of the recently deceased Tandja rival and member of the Dosso ruling house, Moumouni Djermakoye Adamou. In seeking a new leader for the, the party ended its congress on the 17th split, with a 6 month interim leadership going to Kindo Hamani. But the day after, one Amadou Bagnou appeared on government TV and newspapers claiming to be the new head on the party. Bagnou HAD been a member of the party in 1993, when he was Prefect of Tillaberi. But he left the party and joined the ruling MNSD, becoming sub-prefect of Boboye. More recently he was MNSD prefect of Loga under Tandja. Le Courrier suggests he's been re-inserted by Tandja's people to bring the ANDP into government. Odd, as the ANDP formed in 1991 as a split from MNSD when Tandja beat Moumouni Djermakoye for it's leadership.
Footy. Cheats, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Heartbreak, Ireland, Soccer, South Africa, Thierry Henry, Tony Cascarino, and World Cup.
The Venture of Marty Peretz’s bigotry: Arabs, Muslims, Berbers and more « The Moor Next Door
Posted by on 22 January 2010 | 0 Comments
The MND's wonderful piece unveiling the insane bigoted gibberish written by the editor-in-chief of the New Republic, Marty Peretz and his friend Johnathan Chait. Really makes one despair of the ability of otherwise well educated people's capacity to see beyond tribalistic fear and suspicion. Gratuitous use of racist Tintin comics is a plus.
Footy. Cheats, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Heartbreak, Ireland, Soccer, South Africa, Thierry Henry, Tony Cascarino, and World Cup.
Nigeriens killed in Haiti
Posted by on 22 January 2010 | 0 Comments
The APA reports two Nigerien Police officers and one Gendarme are presumed dead in Haiti. They were part of the UN Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in Haiti, and their deaths were reported by the government in Niamey.
Footy. Cheats, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Heartbreak, Ireland, Soccer, South Africa, Thierry Henry, Tony Cascarino, and World Cup.
Trafigura pay-out to go to cronies not victims
Posted by on 22 January 2010 | 0 Comments
An Ivorian court has ruled that a previously unknown NGO should get all compensation, not the victims. '...a senior partner at Leigh Day, the British law firm that has been representing claimants, said that following Friday's ruling, "the prospect of our clients receiving their compensation look somewhat remote... Thirty thousand Ivoirians have been looking to get the compensation due to them to alleviate their lives. Now there is a very real chance they will not see a penny." Another Leigh Day lawyer, Kouame Klement, said only his firm knew the identity of those due to be paid, and that he was worried Mr Gohourou's group would create fictional lists of names. Leigh Day said in a statement that it was concerned there was a "Mr Big" behind Mr Gohourou... Amnesty International is among those concerned that the money could be stolen if passed to Mr Gohourou's newly created non-governmental organisation.'
Footy. Cheats, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Heartbreak, Ireland, Soccer, South Africa, Thierry Henry, Tony Cascarino, and World Cup.
“We must reject the status of Narco-State”
Posted by on 19 January 2010 | 0 Comments
Adam Thaim, chief editorialist for Bamako's Le Republicain, reflects on a Mali being caught in an international conflict over drugs and terrorism. In short, Malian's must solve this smuggling problem, before the West drags them into a "war on terror" and "war on drugs" from which they will benefit little. He notes a gang fight over cigarette smuggling at Batal - 15 km from Gao - last week that left one man dead, and another shot through each hand in punishment. Thaim fears the tie up in international conflicts will turn people against one another, and "Malians will soon assume every northerner is a bomber and any rich man is a drug dealer" While Malian's must pull together, the greater fear is from the perceptions of outsiders. "We are not owners of these conflicts and therefore it is not we, ultimately, who can gain from them. But rightly or wrongly, the link between this activity [the drugs trade] and the AQIM has been made and this will not win us the next Nobel Peace Prize."
Footy. Cheats, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Heartbreak, Ireland, Soccer, South Africa, Thierry Henry, Tony Cascarino, and World Cup.
Niger: Welcome to the para government press
Posted by on 19 January 2010 | 0 Comments
"L’Afrique peut-elle se développer? TANDJA a osé !" shouts the headline. A suck-up piece about how President Tandja dares to reject colonial notions of "democracy" in favor of real "African" traditions. This is the same crap we've been fed for decades: cult of personality dressed up as liberation. What's interesting is that the byline is Ousseini Lawali in "La nation" N°00 of 13 January 2010. Yes, Number Zero of a brand new paper in Niamey, bravely printing the stories other refuse to tell of how great the President is. And so last week's meetings of the government press authority (CSC) come into focus. While the CSC was founded in 1993 to protect journalism, it is now a government controlled censorship agency. Last week it announced a vague "refoundation" of press laws and journalistic standards in Niger. So we we likely see the vibrant, if little distributed, independent newspapers gagged in coming months, to be replaced by "independent" papers like "la Nation".
Footy. Cheats, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Heartbreak, Ireland, Soccer, South Africa, Thierry Henry, Tony Cascarino, and World Cup.
Football Heartbreaks: Thierry Henry Handball
In case you’ve been under a rock for the last few hours, Ireland were dumped out of the 2010 World Cup by France, who needed a 2-1 aggregate result to get past the Irish. They got it on a ball that was handled twice by previously believed to be classy French fella, Theirry Henry.
I still can’t get over this. I always liked Henry, despite the clubs he played for. But that was just wrong, even if I were a neutral observer. Clearly cupping his hand, paddling the ball (heading out) to Gallas who knocks it into the net. Really criminal. I hope France draw Cote d’Ivoire in the WC and get stuffed the way Senegal did them last time.
Former Ireland, Celtic, and L’OM great Tony Cascarino penned a subtle piece of level headed journalism entitled “Thierry Henry is an insincere cheat who has tarnished his reputation for good”
I’ve always loved Tony, and he’s a bit upset here (as you can imagine). “I’m no angel, but I know that I wouldn’t have done what he did. And if the roles had been reversed and Ireland had reached South Africa in such a dubious way, would I have been delighted at victory? Of course. Would I have felt it was tainted? Absolutely. … I’m gutted for Ireland and for football. ”
Mary Hannigan writes: “Lest we forget, Ireland reached these play-offs by finishing second to reigning world champions Italy in their qualifying group, unbeaten in their 10 games, before having to get the better of the 1998 World Cup winners over two legs. A daunting route, it was, to South Africa, the journey ending short of its destination last night.” But wouldn’t trade for this result if I had to live out the rest of my life as Thierry Henry.
Related articles
- Controversial goal breaks Irish hearts (news.bbc.co.uk)
