Reporters Without Borders is relieved to learn that former journalist Andrew Mwangura, the Seafarers Assistance Programme’s representative in Kenya, was finally released on bail in Mombasa after being held for nine days. Mwangura said he was “happy” with the court’s decision and was ready to go back to work and to continue trying to combat piracy in the region.

African farmers of the 21st century can decide what crops to plant by checking prices at local markets using their cell phones. Physicians can help nurses in rural clinics diagnose patients by “telemedicine.” In Nigeria, new subscribers are signing up with mobile phone services at a rate of almost one every second. In Kenya, they can transfer money, get exam results and even find dates using their phones.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has published a harsh new report on the condition of press freedoms in Tunisia. The study, released September 23rd on the group's website, found that press freedom in the country is in bad shape.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has welcomed the provisional release of Moussa Kaka by authorities in Niger after the journalist spent more than a year in detention on charges that he was linked to rebels in the northern part of the country. "We believe that all accusations against Moussa Kaka are baseless and that he was targeted for his investigative reporting," said Gabriel Baglo, Director of the IFJ Africa Office. "

With no fixed-line service and mobile phone operators reluctant to invest in rural areas, the Fantsuam Foundation decided to provide VoIP to customers on its wireless network in northern Nigeria.

A group of software experts, technical specialists and telecommunications entrepreneurs in South Africa is working to develop an inexpensive system to provide rural and under-served area with affordable telephone communication.

This project aims to alleviate economic poverty, promote sustainable development, and empower women's self-help groups in coastal areas of Kenya through the use of ICTs. Women's groups are assisted with ICT training and facilities to engage in alternative livelihood activities and improve productivity. The self-help groups include Mwamlongo, Karoyo, Wakunga, Lolarako, and Gazi Women Mangrove Boardwalk.

This 2006 Bachelor Degree thesis discusses the use of mobile phones in Africa for economic support and livelihood, using the study of fishermen in Tanzania as its core case. From the Abstract: "Mobile phones have had a tremendous diffusion rate in Africa in recent years. This has brought access to telecommunication to new user groups, among them Tanzanian fishermen.

After some 35 years imprisonment under solitary confinement in Louisiana’s Angola prison, the Black Panther Albert Woodfox of the ‘Angola 3’ is now up for retrial following the decision that his original case was unfairly assessed. Describing the experiences of two other Black Panthers to have also endured dubious original murder trials within the state of Nebraska, Michael Richardson reviews the evidence withheld from their initial case.

is a short story of two brothers trapped in a murderous cycle of environmental and cultural devastation in Somalia.

Charcoal Traffic is a global first:

• Charcoal Traffic is the world's first short fictional film based on Somali pastoral culture.

• Charcoal Traffic was shot entirely on location in northern Somalia under very challenging conditions due to almost 20 years of civil war.

• Charcoal Traffic has an all Somali local cast with no previous acting experience.

• Charcoal Traffic is in Somali with English subtitles.

Charcoal Traffic was directed by Nathan Collett, assisted by Godfrey Ojiambo, and co-produced by international award winning environmentalist, Fatima Jibrell with James Lindsay, co-founder of Sun Fire Cooking. Godfrey Ojiambo, resident of Kibera and trustee of Hot Sun Foundation, travelled with Nathan Collett to Somalia to film Charcoal Traffic.

The ‘Best Short Fiction Award’ will be presented to Charcoal Traffic during the VideoFest in San Francisco, California, October 17-18, 2008. Charcoal Traffic has been selected and screened at 19 international film festivals around the world.

* To interview Godfrey Ojiambo or Nathan Collett about their experiences in Somalia or for more information, contact SANTA MUKABANAH, Hot Sun Foundation Communications Officer, [email][email protected] or visit http://www.charcoaltraffic.com/ and http://kiberakid.blogspot.com

* Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at http://www.pambazuka.org/

Ivorian government lawyers have said they may pursue criminal investigations against the Netherlands-based oil trader Trafigura, which owned the oil waste dumped in open-air sites in Abidjan in 2006. Ivorian health officials, an independent investigation panel, and European lawyers have said the poisonous sludge led to more than one dozen deaths and tens of thousands of people to fall ill in Abidjan.

Panos London is inviting journalists in developing countries to apply for a poverty-reduction journalism fellowship. Each of three selected fellows will write a short series of print features or produce a short series of radio interviews between October and December 2008. Successful applicants will see their work published on the Panos London online magazine, and will receive travel expenses and a fellowship fee.

Lewis Medjo, the publisher of the privately-owned Détente Libre weekly, was transferred to New Bell prison near the western city of Douala following his appearance before a public prosecutor in the Douala district of Wouri on 26 September, when a formal order for his detention was issued. He is now due to appear before an investigating judge on 3 October to be formally charged. Local journalists think the charge will be publishing false information.

Reporters Without Borders notes with satisfaction that the National Press and Publications Council decided on 29 September to allow the English-language daily The Citizen to resume publication after being suspended for 27 days. The council said the newspaper is now complying with all administrative requirements.

In attempts to clampdown on homosexuality, some angry Nigerian citizens devoted to torment and victimise the gays and lesbians in that country. The media is believed to be at the helm of infiltrating the recent spate of attacks in Nigeria on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. This followed a series of articles published by some newspapers such as The Nation, PM News, The Vanguard and The Sunday Sun indicating that House of Rainbow Metropolitan Church – an all-inclusive congregation in Nigeria according to a lead member – is exclusively gay.

Ericsson announced it will establish an Innovation Center in sub-Saharan Africa to develop mobile applications that will benefit society as a whole, but with a special focus on meeting the needs of poor and rural populations. The initiative will focus on solutions in health, education, agriculture and small business development, and is another important step in Ericsson's ongoing commitment to support the achievement of the UN's Millennium Development Goals.

A prominent Egyptian newspaper editor faces two months in prison for writing an article about the health of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Ibrahim Eissa, editor-in-chief of the daily Al-Dustour, was sentenced to a six-month prison term in March 2008, but lodged an appeal.

The South African State IT Agency (Sita), which provides IT services to government, will itself migrate to open source software over the coming year. This is according to the organisation’s 2007/2008 annual report (PDF) which has been tabled in Parliament.

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has announced its rejection of the recommendations of the Senate’s Information Committee on the Freedom of Information Bill, saying if passed as proposed it would be the worst access to information law in the world and would bring Nigeria to ridicule.

The African continent is one of the least connected – and when it is connected the costs tend to be higher than in most other parts of the world. In May 2008, the Association for Progressive Communications released the results of the study – The Case for “Open Access” Communications – Infrastructure in Africa: The SAT-3/WASC Cable. The briefing report, written by Abiodun Jagun, summarises the results of the study, conducted in four African countries, Angola, Cameroon, Ghana and Senegal, which examined the impact of the SAT-3/WASC cable on communications markets.