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Why Not an #AfricanSpring?
Why Not an #AfricanSpring?
The Arab Spring got its start in North Africa, so will the work of opposition movements in some African nations translate into real political change? We look at movements in Senegal, Gabon and elsewhere.-
On The Stream we interviewed Mathatha Tsedu of the Media24 Journalism Academy.
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Although social media has proven to be an instrumental tool for uprisings elsewhere in the world, it may not be a game-changer for African nations, according to veteran journalist Mathatha Tsedu, who spoke at a meeting of African journalists in Johannesburg last week.
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“Although technology helps it is not the panacea for all revolutions,” Tsedu says. It’s “hard work on the ground and a determined population that feels it has nothing to lose” that leads to change, but even then it’s the “attitude of the security forces” that plays a much more important role, he says.
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Tsedu adds that having state security on the side of the people aided the Arab Spring revolts.
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In North Africa, change has also happened not so much because communications technology fuelled uprisings but because the militaries in countries such as Tunisia and Egypt told their leaders to go.
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Nonetheless, many believe social media is improving governance and transparency in Africa.
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Great convos & thoughts: "Africa Gathering London – Is social media revolutionizing Africa? http://bit.ly/kMs8Lb via @meowtree
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This year alone, the African continent has seen major uprisings and protests against leadership in Cote d'Ivoire, Uganda, Gabon, Cameroon and more.
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The April arrest of Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo had many believing other African leaders would be next.
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And last January, a peaceful referendum vote for the secession of Southern Sudan gave hope that change could happen in Africa without violence.
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But could lack of international media coverage be one of the reasons for African revolutions to fail? Does a revolt need to be televised for it to succeed, and can African social media networks fill the void?
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International media is following protests across the 'Arab world' but ignoring those in Africa. Demonstrations are continuing across the Middle East, interrupted only by the call for prayer when protesters fall to their knees on cheap carpets and straw mats and the riot police take a tea break.
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In Gabon, many are still calling for the ouster of President Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba. In a photo from February 2, a banner reads: "In Tunisia, Ben Ali left. In Gabon, Ali Ben out."
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#Gabon in Ruins - a Democracy Devastated (Good reminder): http://t.co/ZZkPypo @whitehouse @UN @UNHCR @brianross @cnn #Bongo
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The protests in Gabon seemed to have little effect on the U.S. relationship with the Central African nation. A photo from Gabonese President Bongo Ondimba's meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama earlier this month:
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Why is Barack Obama meeting with an African tyrant? ...http://t.co/ldDmrmL
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And last week in Senegal, protesters pressured President Abdoulaye Wade to give up constitutional changes that would have made it easier for him to be re-elected.
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“The African Spring will begin here in Senegal,”
check out news from Senegal where the president cancels a proposed constitution change. -
One of the Twitter hashtags used in Senegal now is #touchepasmaconstiution, or "don't touch my constitution."
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Local coverage of the protests from Senegalese television channel TFM:
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Videos uploaded to YouTube allegedly showing the June 23 crackdown in Dakar:
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Uploaded by timchatte76 on 2011-06-23.
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More protest coverage from Al Jazeera:
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Online, Senegalese youth for months have been saying, "enough is enough."
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As the uprisings continue across the Arab World, several incidences of angry young people have sprung up on Senegalese websites. Since early March, this activism has left the web behind and a group calling itself "Y'en a marre" (Enough is Enough) has now become the main symbol of the protests.
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Anti-Wade images are being circulated online with the word "degage" or "out."
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Wade Degage !!! #Senegal #ticketWade http://yfrog.com/hszj8lhj
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http://twitpic.com/5fok2d nouvelle profile pic. #senegal
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More images from the protests in Senegal:
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Images des manifestations au #senegal de Mr @MeAbdouLayeWade #TouchePasaMaConstitution 1/7 http://yfrog.com/h3asujlj
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Voici l'image du jour des manifestation #ticketwade #wadedegage #yenamarre #kebetu #senegal http://yfrog.com/h2rz4adaj
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What do you think? To what extent is social media revolutionising Africa? Tell us via Twitter at @AJStream.
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