Images of a white police officer kneeling on the neck of African-American George Floyd, who then died, have sparked protests from Amsterdam to Nairobi, but they also expose deeper grievances among demonstrators over strained race relations in their own countries. With violent clashes between protesters and authorities raging in the United States, anti-police-brutality activists gathered by the thousands in support
The novel coronavirus has complicated the election-year calendar for Africa, as elsewhere, prompting some polling delays, suspensions and uncertainties. It also has created openings for leaders to exploit fears and tighten their grips on power, political observers say. At least nine African countries – including Nigeria, Kenya and Zimbabwe – have postponed elections at some level because of COVID-19
BLANTYRE – Two of Malawi’s biggest opposition parties have formed an electoral alliance for the May 19 polls. The two parties were behind the lawsuit that prompted a court to throw out last year’s election results and order a rerun of the vote. The r…
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – U.N. investigators warn Burundi’s coming elections could be compromised by increasing repression of political opponents, economic and social instability and growing criminality. The U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Burundi has submit…
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The number of female parliamentarians in the world has more than doubled since the groundbreaking U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, 25 years ago, the Inter-Parliamentary Union said Friday. Part of the reason may be…
Malaysia’s Muhyiddin Yassin, a Malay nationalist politician backed by the corruption-tarnished former ruling party, was sworn in as prime minister Sunday after the king picked him to replace 94-year-old Mahathir Mohamad.The swearing-in capped a week of…