DOCSLIB.ORG

DOCUMEFT RESUME AUTHOR Mclellan, Lain Television For

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

DOCUMEFT RESUME ED 276 410 IR 012 407 AUTHOR McLellan, lain TITLE Television for Development. The African Experience. IDRC_Manuscript Report. INSTITUTION International Development Research Centre,Ottawa (Ontario). REPORT NO IDRC-MR121e PUB DATE Jan 86 NOTE 165p.; Photographs may not reproduce clearly. PUB TYPE Reports - Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MFOI/PC07 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Agricultural Educationi Cost Effectiveness; *Developing Nations; *Developmental Programs; *Educational Television; Foreign Countries; Health Programs; Interviews; *Media Selection; *Nonformal Education; Political Influences; *Programing (Broadcast); Womens Education IDENTIFIERS *Africa ABSTRACT Based on visits to and interviews in_ll_countries fSenegal, The-Gambia, Nigert_Ivory_Coasti_NigeriaiZaire, Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cameroon,_the_AinitediStates_i_France,Italy, and Canada) this report-provides_a detailed accountingof the present and potential_use_of_television_to:support_deveIopment through non-formal educational programming in_Africa; Past experiences,current experiments, and_future_possibiIities for improvingthe capacity of television to_serve as a tool for levelopmentare outlined-and exemples_are providld. Where televisionifailedand why it:is _ considered a disappointmentas an educationalitool in Afrida_is_also discussed, but the major focus of_the_report_is_onhow_television can' get back on,track and_what_the_chances:are_for making_changes.Ways to enhance televisioesimessage_reception suchas group_viewing, the use_oflovernment television sets_powered by_solarenergy, andi_ complementing_teIevision_broadcasts with field animation_andother media_are covered in Section 1. Section 2 describesthree _ possibilitiess_for improving television's_capacityto_educate,__ including_the use of drama to presentisocially-reIevantmessages, decentralized and narrowcastuse of-videoi_and the_importance of formative surveying,_pretesting* and_feedbaciSection 3i which considers severaliareas_in which televisioncan potentially help, focuses_onieducating women_in_sucha_way as to inspire their participation_in_the_development,process, agrictilture, a3dihealth__ _ care_éducition_The_country of Cameroon is examined_asa_microcosM_Of an African television service. Discussions_of_cost7effectivenessand political crlsiderations involved_iin_the!reinventioe_tif television as part of _Arica's broadcasting_development conclude the report. Appended are a_series:ofiblack_and white photographsillustrating various_aspects_of television development in Africaand accompanied by narrative explanations. (Author/DJR) IDRONFAR1 21e U.& DEPARTMENT OF IDUCATtON Office of Educational Research and Improvemont EDUCATIONAL-RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC/ *Thus dOcument has beenreproduced as reCeived_frOm the person or organization originating it In Minor changes have boon made to improve reproduction Quality. Points of view or opinions slalftdmihnidoeu, ment do_ not_ necessarily represent official OERI position or policy BEST COPY AVAILABLE "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATEPIAL HAS BEEN GRANTEDBY Iain McLellan TO THE EDUCATIONALRESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." r.,". The International Development Research Centre is a publiccorporation created byithe Parliament ofCanada in 1970 to support research designed to adapt science and te.anditig..; tb_ the nceds of developing countrieS.The Centre's activity is_concentrated in five sectors: agriculture; foodand nutri- tion sciences., health Sciences; information sciences;_SOcial Sciences;and communications. IDRC is finadcedsolely by the Parliament of Canada; its policies, hoWever, ; are set by an international Board ofGovernors. The Centre's headquarterg are inOttawa, Canada; Regional officesare located in Africa, Asia, Latin America,and the Middle East. IDRC Manuscript Report This series includes:Meetingdocuments, internal reports, and preliminary technical documents thatmay later forth the basis of a formal publication; A Manuscript Report is givena small distribution to a highly specialized Audience. IDRC-MR121e TELEVISION FOR DEVELOPMENT: The African Experience lain McLellan Material contained in thisirOpOrt it OrOdUted at_tUbmitted and_hasnot been subjected toiipeer review or rigorous editing by IDRC Communications Division staff. Mention of proprietary names does not constitute endorsement of the product and is given only for information. ain McLellan 1986 Contents Rage PREAMBLE INTRONCTION. African Television's Unfulfilled Potential- 1 FIRST SECTION: Enchancing Television's Message Reception - Group Viewing, Government Sets and Solar Power 10 - Field Animation and a Mixed Media Approach 23 SECOND SECTION: Improving Television's Capacity to Educate - Drama: Development Television's Most Potent Tool 35 - Video and Narrowcasting: TV for and by Ordinary People 48 - Formative Evaluation, Surveyin Pretesting and Feedback 67 THIRD SECTION: Sectors Television Can Help - African Women and TV: Changing Images and Progress through Access 85 - Agricultural_Programming: Reaching Rural Africans by Television 102 Page - A Receptive Audience for Health Care Informdtion 111 = TV for Development in Cameroon: Learning from Experic!nce 122 CONCLUSION: Yes to Television_ But at What Price? 135 Preamble After 25 years of experince with television in Africa, there iS widespread diSappointment with the medium and its capacity to enlighten andeducate the general population. In preparing this report, the author has taken an attitude of constructive criticism. The medium:s shortcomings are easy enough to identify. BUt i'ather than timply identify What is wrong with television in Africa; thispaper attempts to suggest ways that it might be improved and betterserve African societies. The bottom_line is that just about every African government hat dOitidedto deVel-op 6 television service of some sort or another.Television is on the African continent to stay despite all it's inherent protims. By concentrating on innovations, successful experiments and improving television's C6Oacity to -educate and enlighten; this author hopes that the most powerful and potent of the cOMMUnitatien media can be radically changed and doa better job of promoting the ocial and economic development of all citizenson the Afritan Centinent; Part of the motivation for conducting the research for this paper wat te previde thOse inVOlved in television for development in Africa the benefit of each other's experiente. As a result you will find this paper chock full of examples; _Also; because the paper was written with both the layman and the aCadeMic in Mind, it is somewhat a hybrid of styles. It is not a thesis with one underlying point to prove and it iS not an elongated magazine article. But it features characteristics_of both in terms of form. As far Is the substance is concerned, the paper considers the promise and pOtential teieVition holds for supporting development; It also looks at where the medium went wrong and why it is considered a disappointMent in Africa. And finally, the bulk of the work examines what it might take to get deVelOpMent support television back on track and what the chances are for making those changes. During the research of this paper; the author visited and tenduCted interviewt in 14 countries including; Senegal; The Gambia, Niger, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Zaire, Congo; ZaMbiai Zimbabwe, Cameroon; the United States, France; Italy and Canada. An attempt was made to make contact with a wide tOrectrUM OF African society from media professionals and government officials to peasants and development wirkers in the field. Also, interviews were conducted with a variety Of international development organizations and non-governmental agencies involved in Development Support Communications. To be sure;_most of the reseat-chwa done in the capitals where the lion's shatt of officials live and work But rural kfricans were far from forgotten and innumerable field trips W-eie organizedto meet and talk with Villagers abodt their_development and communications needS; Finally;I would like to thank Ousseynou DiOp Of RadiO Canada Internationa , Bob Huggan Of The International DevelopmentResearch Centre, Charles Morrow of The Canadian Internationa, DeVelOpMent Agency and all the others who have beenso helpfulInd supportive and believe in thelititleSS Possibilities for helping people help the-I-II-selves through DevelopmentSupport Communication-5: * * * For Jeanie Orr McLellan-Speedie, a life-long supporter 1 Introduction: African Television's Unfulfilled Potential In N'Zikpli, a small village without electricity in central Ivory Coast, the elders of the community were asked about what they had learned from the battery-powered television the government had installed in the local school in 1974. After explaining, through an interpreter, that they had learneda lot about life outside the village, the men were asked if they hadany questions about what they had seen. The chief was the first to speak: "Is : true that the white man can fly without wings?" "Why are whites always stabbing, punching and shooting each other?" another man asked. * * * Television two decades ago was thought to be the miracle needed to solvemany Of Afritet problems. It was to be the new_oracle, the catalyst necessary to usher the continent into the mainstream Of 20th century life; What has happened to television since then? Is it being used to itt full Capacity to aid development? If not, how can it be made more effective? What is the future for this potent and captivating Médium in Africa? With these questions
Recommended publications
  • BUSINESS Klan Plans Teacher's Halli Boston College,] I N B R Ie F ' 5; to Return Remembered Villanova Lose 8.6% Real GNP

    BUSINESS Klan Plans Teacher's Halli Boston College,] I N B R Ie F ' 5; to Return Remembered Villanova Lose 8.6% Real GNP

    20 - MANCHESTER HERALD. Sat., March 20, 1982 BUSINESS Klan plans Teacher's Halli Boston College,] I n b r ie f ' 5; to return remembered Villanova lose 8.6% Real GNP ... page 4 ... page 9 ... page 13 Hale elected Barter thrives Gross National Product ~ Seasonally adjusted annual CHICAGO — William H. Hale, president of ra te Heritage Savings and Loan Association of Manchester, Conn., has been appointed to the 1982 as mofiey tight Secondary Market Committee of the United States League of Savings Associations. Percentages reflect change The appointment was announced by Roy G. METAIRIE, La. (UPI) — Businesses ’That means members continue to earn from previous quarter Green, chairman of the league and president of and professionals are turning more and their full profit margin under the system Fair tonight Manchester, Conn. Fidelity Federal Savings and Loan Association, more to bartering in today’s depressed when “selling.” And, when "buying,” and Tuesday Jacksonville, Fla. economy, making a growth industry of the members do not have to spend cash Mon., March 22, 1982 The U.S. League is the principal trade organiza­ the centuries-old system of exchange. that could be used for inventory or — See page 2 tion for the savings and loan business and “The thing is cash flow,’’ said George capital improvements. 1982 Single copy 25<( represents over 4,000 associations throughout the Hesse, director of the New Orleans ’That television dealer who received a country. Trade Exchange. $1,000 debit will receive credits when Savings and loan associations are the second “People have inventory but no cash. If someone in the system comes to him for largest t> pe of financial Institution in America and they can spend $2,(X)0 on buying things a TV set.
  • Audience Responses to Migration Stories: Research Component of Voices of African Migrants

    Audience Responses to Migration Stories: Research Component of Voices of African Migrants

    AUDIENCE RESPONSES TO MIGRATION STORIES: RESEARCH COMPONENT OF VOICES OF AFRICAN MIGRANTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report was commissioned to examine the nature and quality of media stories produced by journalists supported by the Voices of African Migrants pilot project in four migration ‘Hubs’ in Africa, and how local audiences interpreted and responded to those stories. It used content analysis, interviews and focus group discussions. The research findings show that most stories used human interest frames and foregrounded migrant experiences. The migrants’ main contributions to the stories were to provide a human face to hardships and suffering. Meanwhile, NGOs were included to provide facts, statements of general causes of migrations, statistics, and a sense of scale. Government statements were used to provide a comment on policies and solutions. Most articles were supportive in their sentiments to the plight of migrants. Participants in the focus groups (especially migrants themselves) recognised that migrant voices were missing from mainstream media reporting on migration, that reporting on migration tends to be negative, and that there are pressing issues relating to migration that need to be discussed in the public sphere. Focus group participants generally responded with empathy and understanding in response to stories about the hardships migrants face. Some stories provoked a distancing or disruption to understanding, especially when an aspect of the story did not match their prior tacit or cultural knowledge about migration. A small number of stories deeply moved focus group participants. The report unpacks how an emphasis on ‘voice’ in this context can inadvertently lead to an under- interrogation of systemic and structural issues by individualising, and in some cases, perpetuating a representation of migrants as helpless victims.
  • La Situation De La Communication Pour Le Développement Au Niger (Etat Des Lieux) Tome 1

    La Situation De La Communication Pour Le Développement Au Niger (Etat Des Lieux) Tome 1

    POLITIQUES ET STRATÉGIES DE COMMUNICATION POUR LE DÉVELOPPEMENT 6 La situation de la communication pour le développement au Niger (Etat des lieux) Tome 1 Niamey POLITIQUES ET STRATÉGIES DE COMMUNICATION POUR LE DÉVELOPPEMENT 6 La situation de la communication pour le développement au Niger (Etat des lieux) Tome 1 PROGRAMME DES NATIONS UNIES POUR LE DÉVELOPPEMENT – PNUD FONDS DES NATIONS UNIES POUR L’ENFANCE – UNICEF NIGER MINISTÈRE DE LA COMMUNICATION ORGANISATION DES NATIONS UNIES POUR L’ALIMENTATION ET L’AGRICULTURE Groupe de la communication pour le développement Service de la vulgarisation, de l’éducation et de la communication Division de la recherche, de la vulgarisation et de la formation Département du développement durable Rome, 2003 Les appellations employées dans cette publication et la présentation des données qui y figurent n’impliquent de la part de l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture aucune prise de position quant au statut juridique des pays, territoires, villes ou zones ou de leurs autorités, ni quant au tracé de leurs frontières ou limites. Tous droits réservés. Les informations ci-après peuvent être reproduites ou diffusées à des fins éducatives et non commerciales sans autorisation préalable du détenteur des droits d’auteur à condition que la source des informations soit clairement indiquée. Ces informations ne peuvent toutefois pas être reproduites pour la revente ou d’autres fins commerciales sans l’autorisation écrite du détenteur des droits d’auteur. Les demandes d’autorisation
  • 1 of 6 a I R L I N E S FAA/Shrinking Seats the Federal Aviation

    1 of 6 a I R L I N E S FAA/Shrinking Seats the Federal Aviation

    AIRLINES FAA/Shrinking The Federal Aviation Administration has been directed to investigate the case of the Seats incredible shrinking airline seat. Issues: safety concerns, cramped conditions and the plight of large passengers. Note: In 2016, the House and Senate rejected measures that would have required the F.A.A. to set minimum seat-size standards. AUTOMOTIVE Sales The Wall Street Journal reported that auto sales declined sharply in July, continuing a 7-month slowdown punctuated by manufacturers’ reluctance to sell discounted cars through leases and car rental chains, which has driven sales in recent years. According to Autodata Corp., sales fell 7% last month compared with a year earlier. Uber/Barclay Ride hailing entity Uber is partnering with British bank Barclays to issue its own co- branded credit card. BROADCAST E.W. Scripps/Katz TV station group E.W. Scripps (33 TV stations) purchased Katz Broadcasting’s four Networks networks (diginets) – Bounce (African America centric), Grit (action and western), Escape (mystery and investigative) and Laff (comedy) – for $302 million. Fox/ION Rumors are circulating that 21st Century Fox and ION Media Networks (60 TV stations) are contemplating creating a joint venture that would combine their respective local TV station holdings. CABLE Discovery/Scripps Discovery agreed to acquire Scripps Networks for $11.9 billion. Two benefits sighted from a combined entity: redundancy reductions and leverage in negotiating higher distribution fees. The Wall Street Journal reported that a combined Discovery
  • Cablefax Dailytm Tuesday — October 3, 2017 What the Industry Reads First Volume 28 / No

    Cablefax Dailytm Tuesday — October 3, 2017 What the Industry Reads First Volume 28 / No

    www.cablefaxdaily.com, Published by Access Intelligence, LLC, Tel: 301-354-2101 Cablefax DailyTM Tuesday — October 3, 2017 What the Industry Reads First Volume 28 / No. 189 Crisis Averted: Altice, Disney Avoid Blackouts with Last-Minute Carriage Deal There was a sense in the industry that the carriage negotiations between Disney and Altice USA were too important for both sides going forward for either to give an inch. Facing potential blackouts for NY-area Optimum customers late Sunday afternoon, however, the two sides reached a deal in principle that they could both tolerate. As of press time Monday, neither side would confirm that the deal has been finalized or discuss terms. But sources cited by SportsBusi- ness Journal shed some light on victories and concessions for the folks on each side of the table. Disney reportedly negotiated a price increase for its channels, including ESPN. The size of that increase isn’t clear, but a Bloomberg report cites sources as saying it wasn’t as significant as Disney had hoped. Disney, however, did reportedly score carriage of the SEC Network and soon-to-launch ACC Network despite the fact that neither conference has significant geographic ties to Optimum’s footprint. Other aspects of the deal, including whether Disney was able to obtain a higher penetration threshold for ESPN, remained unavailable Monday. That’s a critical detail for Disney as it seeks to limit distributors’ ability to leave ESPN—the highest-priced cable net—out of bundles. The Altice deal is the first one Disney has had to negotiate since late 2014, when ESPN was still a growth engine.
  • Usaid Peace Through Development Ii

    Usaid Peace Through Development Ii

    USAID PEACE THROUGH DEVELOPMENT II Quarterly Performance Report: Year 4, Quarter 4 // Reporting Period: July 1 – September 30, 2015 Annual Overview of Activities for Fiscal Year October 2014 – September 2015 October 2015: This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by International Relief and Development Inc. Winners of the contest for best CVE radio drama celebrate at the conclusion of the award ceremony in N’Djamèna, Chad PEACE THROUGH DEVELOPMENT II PEACE THROUGH DEVELOPMENT II (USAID/PDEV II) IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THROUGH THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Cooperative Agreement Award Number AID-624-A-12-00001 Quarterly Performance Report – Year 4, Quarter 4 Reporting Period: July 1 – September 30, 2015 Submitted to: Noel Bauer, AOTR USAID/West Africa Submitted by: Ora Musu Clemens-Hope, COP November 13, 2015 DISCLAIMER: The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government A festival in Gourcy, highlighting the rakiré tradition brought together different ethnic groups to promote interethnic understanding and peaceful co-existence. Table of Contents ACRONYMS ....................................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................
  • NAB Comments Re: Video Competition

    NAB Comments Re: Video Competition

    Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Annual Assessment of the Status of ) MB Docket No. 16-247 Competition in the Market for the ) Delivery of Video Programming ) To: The Commission COMMENTS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS Rick Kaplan Jerianne Timmerman Erin L. Dozier Patrick McFadden Scott Goodwin Emmy Parsons 1771 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 429-5430 Terry Ottina NAB Research September 21, 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... i I. AS THE MARKET FOR VIDEO DISTRIBUTION SHIFTS, DATA SHOW THAT FREE OVER-THE- AIR BROADCASTING CONTINUES TO SERVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN AMERICAN LIVES . 2 A. Over-the-Air Reliance and Cord-Cutting Trends Continue ............................................. 2 B. Local Stations Take a Multifaceted Approach to Providing High Quality News and Entertainment Content ................................................................................................... 6 II. AUTHORIZATION OF THE NEXT GENERATION TV STANDARD WILL SET THE STAGE FOR THE FUTURE OF TELEVISION ............................................................................................... 14 III. CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................ 16 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The state of competition in the video programming marketplace is stronger than ever. Today, in television’s

  • Niger Page 1 of 27

    2009 Human Rights Report: Niger Page 1 of 27 Home » Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs » Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor » Releases » Human Rights Reports » 2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices » Africa » Niger 2009 Human Rights Report: Niger BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND LABOR 2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices March 11, 2010 Niger is a republic that restored its multiparty system in 1999 following coups in 1996 and 1999; it has a population estimated at 15.4 million. In 2004 voters elected Mamadou Tandja to a second five-year presidential term in an election that international observers deemed generally free and fair. The ruling coalition of the National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD) and the Democratic and Social Convention (CDS), joined by four other parties, won a majority of national assembly seats. President Tandja's second--and final, due to constitutional limits--five-year term was due to expire on December 22, 2009; however, he organized a controversial referendum that established the Sixth Republic and allowed him to remain in office for three additional years and that eliminated the term-limits provision, although this provision was specifically prohibited from revision in the 1999 constitution. To consolidate the power needed to approve these changes, President Tandja dissolved the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court, modified the electoral code, restricted basic freedoms, curtailed press freedom, and granted himself emergency powers to rule by decree and executive order. In 2007 the Tuareg rebel group Nigerien Movement for Justice (MNJ) launched a series of attacks against military and strategic installations in the north.
  • The Internet and West African Community Radio

    The Internet and West African Community Radio

    The One to Watch – Radio, New ICTs and Interactivity Chapter 4 The Information Highways are still Unpaved: The Internet and West African community radio Lynda Attias and Johan Deflander Community Radio and the Internet: A Promising Union Since our radio has been connected to the Internet, our telephone bills are four times higher, but I’ve also seen that we communicate four times less with our community. – Zane Ibrahim, Bush Radio; Cape Town, South Africa Africa’s community radio stations play an active role in the process of local development. They inform the population, help people share experiences and knowledge, and facilitate exchanges. These stations are often integrated into the community and are accessible to members from all social strata, including the illiterate and speakers of non-written languages. Radio stations must cope with many difficulties, however, because they lack documentation and are usually located in isolated rural areas. The use of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) can potentially enable them to face some of the challenges. Given that radio is already well-established, plays an important role in the community, and encourages participation, we believe that, connecting it with the Internet, a highly interactive and information-rich medium, offers many prospects for local development. Nevertheless, simply praising the virtues of a linkage between community radio and the Internet does not take us very far. There is a need to examine the perceptions, expectations, and needs of the community radio stations and the practical obstacles that this linkage entails. One of the major risks involved with introducing the Internet into community radio is that it may remain foreign to those it is intended for and therefore be useless.
  • Irregular Migration and Human Smuggling Networks in Niger

    Irregular Migration and Human Smuggling Networks in Niger

    Irregular migration and human smuggling networks in Niger CRU Report Fransje Molenaar Irregular migration and human smuggling networks in Niger Fransje Molenaar CRU Report February 2017 February 2017 © Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’. Cover photo: Two stranded off-road vehicles in the dunes between Agadem and Bilma in the eastern Niger. © Wikimedia Commons / Holger Reineccius Unauthorized use of any materials violates copyright, trademark and / or other laws. Should a user download material from the website or any other source related to the Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’, or the Clingendael Institute, for personal or non-commercial use, the user must retain all copyright, trademark or other similar notices contained in the original material or on any copies of this material. Material on the website of the Clingendael Institute may be reproduced or publicly displayed, distributed or used for any public and non-commercial purposes, but only by mentioning the Clingendael Institute as its source. Permission is required to use the logo of the Clingendael Institute. This can be obtained by contacting the Communication desk of the Clingendael Institute ([email protected]). The following web link activities are prohibited by the Clingendael Institute and may present trademark and copyright infringement issues: links that involve unauthorized use of our logo, framing, inline links, or metatags, as well as hyperlinks or a form of link disguising the URL. About the author Fransje
  • Niger 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report

    Niger 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report

    Niger 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Niamey. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Niger. For more in-depth information, review OSAC’s Niger country page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Travel Advisory The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Niger at Level 3, indicating travelers should reconsider travel to Niger due to crime, terrorism, and kidnapping. Avoid travel to Niger’s border regions, particularly the Malian border area, Diffa region, and the Lake Chad region due to terrorism. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. Overall Crime and Safety Situation Crime Threats The U.S. Department of State has assessed Niamey as being a HIGH-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Crime occurs at all hours in Niger. Non-violent crimes (e.g. pickpocketing, purse snatching, backpack/cell phone theft) are present in major cities, notably in/around places where Westerners gather. Within Niamey, avoid the Night Market; criminals loiter in the area, which is notorious for pickpocketing, purse snatching, mugging, and assaults. Other markets, the area around the Gaweye and Grand Hotels, the National Museum, and Kennedy Bridge are also high-risk areas. Review OSAC’s reports, All That You Should Leave Behind.
  • Security Sector Governance in Francophone West Africa: Realities and Opportunities

    Security Sector Governance in Francophone West Africa: Realities and Opportunities

    Alan Bryden and Boubacar N’Diaye (Eds) Security Sector Governance in Francophone West Africa: Realities and Opportunities Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) LIT Security Sector Governance in Francophone West Africa: Realities and Opportunities edited by Alan Bryden and Boubacar N’Diaye LIT (Bibliographic information here) Contents Preface vii Foreword ix Abbreviations xi 1 Mapping Security Sector Governance in Francophone West Africa 1 Alan Bryden and Boubacar N’Diaye 2 Benin 17 Théodore C. Loko 3 Burkina Faso 45 Jean-Pierre Bayala 4 Côte d’Ivoire 73 Raphaël Ouattara 5 Guinea 95 Dominique Bangoura 6 Mali 125 Mahamadou Nimaga 7 Mauritania 151 Boubacar N’Diaye 8 Niger 177 Anonymous 9 Senegal 205 Niagale Bagayoko-Penone 10 Togo 229 Comi M. Toulabor 11 Entry Points for Security Sector Reform in Francophone 255 West Africa Alan Bryden and Boubacar N’Diaye List of Contributors 275 About DCAF 279 Preface These are defining moments for Africa. The ‘Arab spring’ in North Africa has in some cases overturned regimes that have held power for decades. In other cases, authorities have been impelled to embrace more participative modes of governance. Yet conflicts have also been unleashed that are causing widespread bloodshed and suffering. If these dynamics are evident across the continent, West Africa’s politico-security environment certainly seems to defy prediction. Since this research project was launched, Guinea and Niger’s political landscapes have shifted radically from entrenched authoritarian rule to military regimes of exception and now (following successful elections) to fledgling democratic dispensations. By contrast, elections that were meant to heal divisions in Cote d’Ivoire had the opposite effect as Laurent Gbagbo, until forcibly removed, sought illegitimately to hold onto power.