Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from October, 2019
Zanzibar zooms in on the future of visual arts in Africa
Visual Arts Festival Zanzibar brought together artists from Zanzibar and across Africa for a week of conversations, workshops and panels on the current state of visual arts.
Tanzania tech startup fights fake drugs through new online platform
Hawa Dagaa, a pharmacist in Dar es Salaam, believes that the new online system will help her track the pharmaceutical products, reducing her chances of purchasing fake drugs.
Angolan president's reforms drive positive impact on media — but limits persist
Under Angola's former regime, JES, prosecutions of activists and journalists were common. In 2017, João Lourenço (“JLO”) succeeded JES and journalists began to see reforms to press freedoms. But is it enough?
Portuguese rapper causes controversy for portraying domestic violence in music video
Dozens of women's rights associations criticized the rapper Valete, who responded saying the controversy was "empty".
Mozambican journalists and activists targeted with threats in election year
Human rights organizations documented several cases in which journalists and activists were threatened and subjected to pressures interfering with their work in relation to the elections.
Nigerian journalist under threat of arrest for exposé of police and prison corruption
The intimidation of journalist 'Fisayo Soyombo exemplifies the precarious state of press freedom and free speech in Nigeria.
How football-mad Cameroon is lifting up the sport in the country
After years of regression and neglect, the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) has decided to put domestic football league business back on track.
How Ethiopia's ruling coalition created a playbook for disinformation
Manipulation tactics used by Ethiopia's ruling coalition members against each other in their internal power struggle serve as a blueprint for opposition groups to attack their opponents and the government.
From dictatorship to democracy: All eyes on The Gambia’s upcoming Universal Periodic Review
Ahead of The Gambia's Universal Periodic Review, which issues top the agenda of civil society organizations? "There has been a kind of a media boom after the dictatorship."
Deadly police raids in Guinea as President Alpha Condé clings to power
Deadly police violence in Guinea as the president attempts to modify the constitution to cling to power. The demonstrations killed six people, including one police officer, and wounded many others.
Journalists faced obstacles covering elections in Mozambique, regional observer said
In a note shared by email on 12 September the Mozambique chapter of the Institute for Media in Southern Africa (MISA) said political party members have prevented journalists from covering events.
Rwanda deports American evangelical pastor accused of hate speech and visa violations
Many Rwandans lauded the US evangelical preacher's deportation, decrying hate speech in Rwanda. But supporters see it as an attack on faith-based organizations by the Kagame administration.
Internet censorship in Sudan: Rethinking laws and tactics that served an authoritarian regime
Sudan's transitional authorities have taken small steps toward improving the climate for internet freedom in the country— but these remain inadequate.
Was the Nobel Peace Prize for Ethiopia’s prime minister premature?
Abiy Ahmed Ali has undertaken unprecedented reforms since he took office last year. But will he end up like other African leaders who started well, but went rogue over time?
Zimbabwe government continues to weaponize information online to control citizen engagement
As a former state security minister, president Mnangagwa appreciated the importance and value of disinformation in Zimbabwe’s political terrain.
This Tanzanian youth advocate has a vision for inclusive education
A recent study conducted by HakiElimu found that even in schools deemed “inclusive,” the learning environment was still not very friendly for students with visual impairment.
Nigerian journalist Omoyele Sowore remains in jail on trumped-up charges of treason and insulting the president
Rights groups see Omoyele Sowore's continued detention and the charges filed against him as merely a criminalisation of political dissent in Nigeria.
#SexForGrades: A new documentary exposes sexual harassment at West African universities
Professors who harass female students and pressure them for sex in return for grades or school admission has become the norm in many universities in Nigeria and Ghana.
Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa: Global Voices represents at Addis Ababa digital rights conference
The forum represented a huge step forward for digital rights in Ethiopia, where, just five years ago, press freedom and digital rights were at an all-time low.
As Sudan transitions to democracy, urgent reforms must tackle disinformation
To help counter mis-and disinformation, Sudan's transitional government needs to provide better conditions to support press freedom, freedom of expression and access to information.
The fault lines in Cameroon's national peace talks
National peace dialogues in Cameroon have left some citizens filled with doubt and fear. “I don’t see anything coming out of that meeting in Yaoundé," said Martin, a carpenter.
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