Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from June, 2023
Kenya’s decision to remove visa restrictions sparks discussions about a borderless Africa
The Africa Visa Openness Index Report 2022 from the African Development Bank, highlights that only three countries — Benin, The Gambia, and Seychelles — currently offer visa-free access to all African nationals.
A small dictionary of ‘Cha Bubo,’ a vernacular from Butembo in the Democratic Republic of Congo
In addition to the national languages in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cha Bubo is a specific linguistic entity spoken in Butembo, in Nord-Kivu province
Sahel schoolteachers face Jihadist threat
Just when governments in the Sahel are unable to safeguard its schools, Jihadists have no hesitation in killing the teachers they target.
How Africans are bridging the language digital divide
About 20 years ago, 80 percent of the world's online content was in English. Currently W3Tech estimates that 54.9 percent of websites with known content languages use English.
Togo and China: Half a century of fruitful cooperation, but also of rejection of any form of criticism
After a presence since 1972, China celebrates 51 years of cooperation with Togo in 2023. While Lomé and Beijing publicize an ideal relationship, the reality on the ground is more complicated.
Forest in Guinean capital disappearing due to uncontrolled urbanization
A forest within Guinea’s capital city, Conakry, is disappearing before our very eyes due to uncontrolled urbanization destroying its few remaining green spaces.
Zimbabwe’s uneven electoral field: Data protection laws used to deny digital voter roll inspection
In April this year, a number of eligible voters received accurately targeted campaign SMS messages from the ruling party, with details such as voters’ full names and where message recipients had registered to vote.
Switching from Taiwan to China has led to more exploitation: Interview with Cameroonian scholar Richard Atimniraye Nyelade
Cameroon first established relations with Taiwan upon its independence, later switching to Beijing. While Taiwan remains largely absent today, China dominates in Cameroon yet the relation remains far from equal.
Uganda enacts repressive law putting LGBTQ+ communities at serious risk
Uganda's LGBTQ+ community is now under threat of imprisonment and capital punishment following the enactment of this discriminatory "anti-homosexuality" law.
Unfreedom Monitor Report: Kenya
Advox research into digital authoritarianism in Kenya is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.
Taiwan and Burkina Faso: A tumultuous history of cooperation and estrangement
While Taiwan was present in Western Africa in the 1960s, there is little memory left of this period, as Taiwan-based Burkinabe scholar Dramane Thiombiano explains to Global Voices.
How technology has entrenched the authoritarian electoral practice of controlling political choice in Kenya's democracy
Kenya is representative of a nation where elections do not equate to democracy, and technological advancements have only provided the government with leverage over its citizens’ political choice.
Unfreedom Monitor Report: Speech
Advox research into freedom of speech is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.
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