Drained but proud: how it felt to organise South Africa’s first democratic election in just 4 months: South Africa’s historic 27 April 1994 national election marked the end of more than three centuries of colonial and apartheid rule. The period leading to the election was one of heightened political tension, with opponents of change working …
The challenges African election bodies face go beyond ‘democratic backsliding’ – analysis: Election management bodies are essential democratic institutions. To deliver national polls effectively, they need to be properly resourced, impartial and free from government or malicious interference. Independent election bodies established in the 1990s played an important role in the early deepening of democratic …
Macky Sall throws Senegal’s democratic credentials into doubt: Senegal’s President Macky Sall announced in early February that presidential elections, originally scheduled for 25 February, would be postponed indefinitely. The announcement has raised fears of popular protests, violent repression, a once democratic president transforming into an authoritarian ruler – and possibly even another coup d’état in …
Afghanistan: two years after Taliban takeover the west is letting down the democratic opposition: The consequences of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan two years ago are bad enough for the people who live there, especially women and girls, but also for the region and the world, in the flow of migrants and threat of terrorism. …
Senegal: behind the protests is a fight for democratic freedoms: Clashes erupted in Senegal following the sentencing of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko to two years in prison for "corrupting the youth" in June 2023. Annika Hammerschlag/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images President Macky Sall’s unwillingness to confirm he will not run for a third term in …
Eusebius McKaiser played a transformative role in talk radio in a democratic South Africa: Eusebius McKaiser in 2022. Oupa Bopape/Gallo Images via Getty Images South African broadcaster, author and political analyst Eusebius McKaiser passed away suddenly on 30 May 2023 at the age of 45. News of his death reverberated through media channels. Tributes bore …
Sudan’s people toppled a dictator – despite the war they’re still working to bring about democratic change: Civilians protest in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, in December 2022. AFP via Getty Images While Sudan’s generals have unleashed indiscriminate destruction and occupation on wide swaths of the capital, Khartoum, neighbourhood resistance committees and pro-democracy activists have stepped up …
Why democratic countries around the world are not prepared to support Ukraine – and some are shifting closer to Russia: After over a year of the Ukraine war, efforts at building a global consensus against Russia seem to have stalled, with many countries opting for neutrality. The number of countries condemning Russia has declined, according …
If Biden doesn’t run in 2024, here are the main rivals for the Democratic nomination: Joe Biden has made it clear he intends to stand for re-election in 2024. But despite his state of the union address reflecting a fighting spirit that many interpreted as another indication for a 2024 bid, Biden’s intention may not …
Tanzania: opposition rallies are finally unbanned – but this doesn’t mean democratic reform is coming: Supporters of Tanzania's main opposition party Chadema wave during a rally in Mwanza. Michael Jamson/AFP via Getty Images In Tanzania, the political rally is back. Chadema, Tanzania’s leading opposition party, held mass rallies outside the official election campaign for the …
Frene Ginwala remembered: trailblazing feminist and first speaker of South Africa’s democratic parliament: Frene Ginwala addressing the media in 2017, tireless in her fight for justice. Gulshan Khan/AFP via Getty Images Frene Ginwala, feisty feminist, astute political tactician and committed cadre of South Africa’s governing party, the African National Congress (ANC), has died at the …
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Four more years? Joe Biden and other Democratic hopefuls for the 2024 presidential nomination: If US president Joe Biden was looking for an excuse not to run in 2024, he didn’t get it in the midterms. Democrats not only avoided the dreaded “red wave”, but also managed to retain control of the Senate, held Republicans …
The world’s democratic recession is giving China more power to extend authoritarianism: Over the last decade, the number of countries considered to be liberal democracies has contracted from 41 to 32, back to the same level as in 1989. In the same period, 87 other countries were labelled as closed autocracies or elected autocracies. A …
Why the ‘social democratic’ SNP needs some fresh thinking after 15 years in power: Terry Murden/Shutterstock Despite growing evidence of disquiet and even discontent with the current Scottish government, the ruling Scottish Nationalist Party retains what many believe is an unassailable position of dominance after the local elections of May 2022. There is no doubt …
Social media regulation: why we must ensure it is democratic and inclusive: Tero Vessalainen/Shutterstock News that the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, is buying Twitter has sent the world into a spin, dividing those who advocate for unfettered free speech – like Musk – and those who believe that some platforms wield too much power …
Lakes in the Democratic Republic of Congo are contested spaces. Here’s why: Getty Images The lakes of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) play a big part in people’s lives – socially, politically and economically. But lake fishing communities find themselves at the intersection of geography, war and authority, as rebel groups and conservation managers …
South Africa in the news: ‘An unsung hero of a democratic SA’: DA’s James Selfe retires from Parly: CAPE TOWN – The Democratic Alliance’s James Selfe is retiring as a Member of Parliament after a 43-year career in politics, according to a report in the Daily Maverick. Selfe (66) announced that he …: “South Africa” …