History

Former Mauritanian head of state Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, the country's first democratically elected president in 2007 and overthrown by a coup the following year, died on the night of November 22 to 23 in a clinic in the capital, Nouakchott, of a long illness. A three-day national mourning has been observed since the morning of 23 November throughout the territory.…

Does the history of decolonization tell from a colonization perspective? A dude to the classic historical story that reflects the gaze of colonizing Europe. This was the position taken by three documentaries entitled "Decolonizations" and directed by Karim Miské, Pierre Singaravélou and Marc ball, which was broadcast last year on the French-German TV channel Arte. These documentaries are today the subject of an eponymous book published in a joint edition by Seuil and Arte éditions. Marc Ball is a guest of Julie Vandal.…

On November 22, 1970, Guinea's fate almost changed. The declining Portuguese empire is in difficulty on its current Guinea-Bissau territory. Lisbon will try its best to organize a lightning attack outside its borders for the first time in its history and in the greatest secrecy. Objective: to overthrow the regime of Sékou Touré, the main supporter of the PAIGC's insurgency. The coup failed in part, but in 1971 triggered the greatest…

The tombs, scattered here and there in Antananarivo, are hundreds. The oldest date from the Vazimba period towards the end of the 16th century. Only 20% of them are still maintained by the families of the descendants of the deceased. A conference was dedicated to this Malagasy architectural heritage "Tombs and Men in Antananarivo" at the Museum of Photography.…

In Senegal, a new statue was unveiled in the heart of Dakar on Tuesday, November 3, by historian Cheikh Anta Diop, who died in 1986. The intellectual disrupted the vision of African history by emphasizing the contribution of black Africa to civilization, especially Egypt. His statue is now erected in front of the university and on the avenue bearing his name.…

In May 1959, the national anthem of the very young Republic of Madagascar was officially presented to the people. But as with flags, it will not be unanimous and will be the target of violent criticism. The story behind the choice of this patriotic song. as reported from Antananarivo On October 14, 1958, Madagascar, though still a colony in France, entered a new era by becoming a republic, the first in its history. Therefore, the power that is in place quickly decides to equip itself with characteristics specific to…

Gorée, the historic island off Dakar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, had banned the arrival of non-residents to protect against the coronavirus pandemic. A closure that had stifled the island's economy. This Saturday, October 10, eight boats out of twelve of the Dakar-Gorée line will be restored to the great delight of the people. as reported from Dakar, Camera around their necks, Congolese students stroll through the shady alleys of the island of Gorée. They have been waiting for this…

Between 1960 and 1966, France conducted 17 nuclear tests in the Algerian Sahara. More than half a century later, the waste is still there, and the question of the consequences of these tests remains unanswered. This is stated in a forum of representatives of the Armaments Observatory and ICAN France (the international campaign to abolish nuclear weapons). They call on France to address this crucial…

In the city of Kisangani, cultural actors keep alive the memory of the violence that destroyed the city and killed at least 700 people. Three actors on stage and a very attentive audience. The play being played evokes democracy in Africa and its opposites. This is the 10th edition of the Ngoma Festival. The Taccems Group, which organizes it, specializes in indoor theater, but also plays what it calls intervention theater. It was in this context that he put on a show on the Six-Day War. A piece that was difficult to…

More than 700 civilians died from 5 to 10 June 2000 in Kisangani after heavy arms conflicts between the Rwandan and Ugandan armies. Even today, the traces of this violence are still there and the pain is still alive. Monsignor Samuel Lotika has gray hair and well-worn glasses. The provincial president-bishop of Christ Church in Congo barely hides his teary-eyed eyes at the mention of the Six-Day War. “The first one was going to fall in the classroom where my son was studying. Many of the students were dead. It was also…