Time to stop South Africa’s descent into despotism
In recent months, Brazil and South Korea have shown how far countries can go in the fight against corruption. No one, not even the president, has been above the… Read more »
Category: Africa
‘Like-minded’ dictatorships show solidarity at U.N.
Why can’t the UN get more done to promote freedom? Council on Foreign Relations analyst Elliott Abrams asks. The answer is clear: so many member states are themselves dictatorships… Read more »
UN General Assembly a crucial opportunity to reassert democracy-based soft power
This week’s United Nations General Assembly is a crucial opportunity to reassure the world that U.S. foreign policy is based primarily on the soft power of diplomacy rather than military… Read more »
Civil society taking fight against violent extremism to ‘a whole new level’
Iraqi security forces have made great progress toward defeating the Islamic State in Iraq. But whether this military success will translate into enduring stability will depend in large part upon the… Read more »
Liberia confronts challenges to consolidate its nascent democracy
With President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf set to step down after 12 years office, 20 candidates are competing to replace her. On 10 October 2017, Liberia will go to the polls… Read more »
Observers under fire for ‘rubber stamping’ Kenya vote
Accused of glossing over flaws in Kenya’s election which later caused the result to be overturned, international observers are under a harsh spotlight ahead of a re-run in October, AFP… Read more »
Civil society manifesto pressing for DRC transition
The UN said on Tuesday that soldiers “forced entry” into its base in the volatile Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo aiming to arrest a journalist critical… Read more »
Challenging Africa’s ‘leaders for life’ syndrome
Sub-Saharan Africa is home to many of the world’s longest-ruling heads of state, but civil society and regional blocs may be slowing the trend of extending presidential terms in some… Read more »
Schools of democracy: labor unions mobilize against authoritarian regimes, for basic rights
Reports that the Philippines’ labor movement is beginning to mobilize against President Rodrigo Duterte’s authoritarian regime are a timely reminder that unions are often in the forefront of actions to… Read more »
Don’t let repression tarnish Kenya’s ‘fairest election’
Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga is expected to announce his strategy Wednesday for contesting his election loss, having further delayed a decision that could defuse or exacerbate tensions in the… Read more »