[liberationtech] Sahel Spring

[Richard Brooks]

As a recap, about 1 year ago a popular uprising called Balai Citoyen:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Balai_Citoyen

started by rappers and tech activists in Ouagadougou got
a lot of the population in the street to protest moves
by the President to prolong his 27 years in office.

Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso.

The military eventually asked the President to leave, and
a transition government was put in place. Elections were
planned for mid-October.

Yesterday, the presidential guard held the interim government
hostage and called off the elections. People close to the
ex-President are leading this action by part of the military.
Latest news:

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/09/17/uk-burkina-army-idUKKCN0RG28S20150917

The studio of one of Balai Citoyen's founders was under attack.
There is a curfew. Some dead protesters. Dozens wounded.

Calls for more protests.

Note that the Sahel Spring in Burkina Faso lead to a number of
protest movements in Subsaharan Africa. Their actions lead to
hope of democratic change.

The question is whether the combination of rappers and tech
activists can mobilize a large enough response to repel
this attack.