Cairo’s street artists defy authorities with graffiti protest
Whitewashing their own work, but with a difference. Mohamed Mahmoud St, Cairo, 24 May 2012
Cairo’s graffiti artists offered a sarcastic rebuttal to city authorities on Thursday during the last day of voting in Egypt’s presidential elections. Following plans to whitewash street art on Mohamed Mahmoud St, artists instead began the whitewashing themselves spelling out a cynical phrase in Arabic – “forget about the past, focus on the elections”.
Mitt, the Mormons, and a controversial temple in France
An architectural rendering of what the Mormon temple will look like in Le Chesnay. Photo: Intellectual Reserve Inc
As Mitt Romney continues to work toward his goal of replacing Barack Obama, one aspect of his past is achieving success after a long struggle — in France, not the US. French Mormons are preparing to break ground in construction of the country’s first temple, to be built in the leafy Paris suburb of Le Chesnay, right near the Palace of Versailles, one of the country’s major international tourism draws. The plan, though, is not without controversy.
Overview: London conference on Somalia
"Kenya stop violating our sea coast" - protesters at the London conference on Somalia
Interview: Adjoa Anyimadu, Somalia researcher, Chatham House
“Scepticism understandable”Interview: Benedicte Goderiaux, Somalia researcher, Amnesty International
“Foreign armies and proxy militias in Somalia must be held accountable”Interview: Ali Rooble, protester
“London conference on Somalia aims to conquer the country”Ambience: Protest at London conference
“Hands off Somalia!”London conference on Somalia attracts international attention
The London conference on Somalia opens to fanfare on Thursday hoping to improve the situation in a country described as the “world’s worst failed state”. Ahead of the conference the UN Security Council has approved a new resolution bolstering the African Union’s peacekeeping force in Somalia to 17,000 troops, in its fight against the Al-Shabaab rebels.
Madagascar must agree amnesty for Ravalomanana, says Sadc
Marc Ravalomanana. Photo: US State Dept
Madagascar must agree new amnesty laws by the end of February to pave the way for the return of exiled former leader Marc Ravalomanana, the South African foreign affairs ministry said on Sunday. After a meeting of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) in Cape Town, the regional bloc insists the country must adopt its road map to end its political stand-off.
Interview: Watching the Last Lions with Dereck and Beverly Joubert
The Last Lions - Dereck and Beverly Joubert. Photo: Wildlife Films Botswana / Mike Meyers
More than 90 per cent of the lion population has disappeared from Africa over the past 50 years, according to some estimates. A film to be shown on the National Geographic channel in France charts the story of one family of lions. RFI spoke to the makers of The Last Lions about their journey into the world of one of the most ferocious predators known to man…
Voices from Tahrir by Human Rights Watch
Egyptians celebrating in Tahrir Square. Photo: Platon, 2011
Voices from Tahrir Square is a sound portrait of the people’s revolution in Egypt for the anniversary of the 25 January – 11 February 2011 uprising. Features recordings made in the square by reporters and citizen journalists from around the world, including Daniel Finnan of Radio France Internationale.
PRX: Human Rights Watch
Kagame cleared of involvement in plane crash by French report
Tharcisse Karugarama. Photo: Rwandan government.
A French judicial report on Tuesday cleared Rwandan President Paul Kagame of involvement in the shooting down of a plane that sparked the 1994 genocide. The report was welcomed by Rwanda as a vindication of Kagame.
Interview: Rwandan Justice Minister Tharcisse Karugarama
ANC celebrates 100 years
South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) party celebrates 100 years on Saturday. It was founded on 8 January 1912 in Bloemfontein. ANC National Spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said the centenary is a “test of loyalty” for the ANC which demonstrates how far the party has gone over the past 100 years.
Interview: ANC Spokesperson Jackson Mthembu
Nigerian fuel subsidy protests
Adeleke Olurunnimbe Mamora
Nigerians took to the streets on Friday in demonstrations against the government’s removal of a fuel price subsidy. A general strike has been called for Monday. Former Lagos East Senator Adeleke Olurunnimbe Mamora said the protests are getting “bigger” and coupled with Monday’s strike could lead to a “total paralysis” of the economy.
