Sub-Saharan Africa
The future of Africa is often regarded in a strangely unimaginative and pessimistic way. Yet Africa today is full of diversity, economic potential and innovative development.
However, the continent faces numerous challenges. As a liberal foundation, we believe that sustainable development depends on strong democratic institutions. Through our activities, we therefore promote liberal policies such as human rights, the rule of law, innovation, digitalisation and free trade.
From our offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Harare, Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Abidjan and Dakar, we support partners in several African countries in advocating liberal values and implementing democratic structures.
News
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Reimagining global finance
As debt distress tightens its grip on the Global South, 35 developing countries teeter on the brink of default with many now spending more on interest payments than on education or healthcare. At a high-level roundtable hosted by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, experts and policymakers examined the structural flaws of the global financial system, questioning whether it supports or stifles development. With rigid lending rules, outdated restructuring mechanisms, and growing pressure from both traditional and non-traditional creditors, the crisis is no longer just economic, it is profoundly social and political. The message was clear: debt, if poorly structured, traps countries in cycles of fragility. Urgent reform is needed to build a fairer, more resilient financial architecture before more lives and futures are lost.
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Trump’s Stage, Ramaphosa’s test
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House this week to strengthen ties. Instead, the South African delegation faced a staged performance tailored for Trump’s domestic audience. In the lead-up, Trump and his allies reignited false claims of a “white farmer genocide” in South Africa — a narrative disproven by crime data and human rights groups. Still, the myth remains popular among Trump’s conservative base, serving as a convenient but harmful political tool in U.S. discourse.
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Chief Justice Koome backs International Anti-Corruption Court at FNF launch
At a landmark event in Nairobi, Chief Justice Martha Koome endorsed the proposed International Anti-Corruption Court (IACC), calling it a vital tool to combat grand corruption and kleptocracy across Africa. Speaking at the launch of a policy brief by FNF, Koome emphasised the failure of domestic systems to hold powerful offenders accountable, particularly those who hide illicit funds in offshore accounts. She argued that an international court is not only timely but essential.
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Africa and Europe at crossroads
Africa and Europe face a defining moment in global trade as rising US tariffs reshape economic relationships. Zimbabwe, as Chair of SADC, suspended tariffs on American imports after Washington imposed an 18% duty on Zimbabwean goods. This gesture highlights Africa’s lack of a unified trade response, exposing industries to risk and weakening negotiating power. As the Trump Administration embraces protectionism and China deepens its influence, the EU has a narrow window to offer a fair, rules-based alternative.
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The role of C20 in shaping an inclusive G20 2025
As South Africa prepares to host the G20 Summit in 2025, the world’s attention is on how this global event can drive meaningful change. The theme—Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability—highlights the need for inclusive policies that tackle pressing global challenges like inequality, climate change, and economic instability. But for real impact, the voices of everyday people must be heard. Civil Society Organisations play a crucial role in ensuring the G20’s decisions reflect the needs of all communities, not just governments and businesses.
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The deterioration of U.S.-South Africa relations
The expulsion of Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool in March 2025, after remarks on U.S. racial politics, marked a low in relations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Rasool a “race-baiting politician,” highlighting tensions. The conflict reflects deeper ideological and policy differences, particularly on racial redress. U.S. officials have misrepresented South Africa’s economic and land reforms as discriminatory. This weaponisation of race has strained ties, underscoring the need to move beyond racial narratives in foreign relations, writes Kwezi Sogoni.
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Strengthening partnerships for sustainable growth
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation played a key role at the RenewPac Summit in Abidjan, focusing on governance, innovation, and strengthening EU-Africa partnerships. Key discussions included climate resilience, economic development, and fostering political participation among women and youth. FNF led a session on "The Next Big Idea," driving transformative ideas for collaboration, and co-hosted a workshop on empowering women in politics.
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Dramatic Escalation of Violence in Syria Three Months After the Fall of the Assad Regime
Almost exactly three months after the fall of the Assad regime, the violence in Syria has escalated dramatically. Regional Office Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Jörg Dehnert, spoke to Rafif Jouejati, Vice President of the Syrian Liberal Party, about the dramatic developments in Syria.
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Under fire: How Trump & Co. are interfering in South Africa's land rights debate
The criticism from the USA is less a matter-of-fact debate than a declaration of war; for the debate has a geopolitical dimension. South Africa, this year's host of the G20 summit, is a founding member of the BRICS community of states. The South African governing party, the ANC, has maintained close relations with Russia and China for years. South Africa has also brought a lawsuit against Israel before the International Court of Justice for genocide in Gaza.
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Are Trump's policies holding human rights organisations hostage?
Since President Donald Trump’s executive order halting US-backed funding to various aid agencies, many recipient organisations are grappling with its impact. Much has been written about programmes including health response, humanitarian aid, security enforcement, and advocacy support. Beyond work practicalities, thousands of livelihoods hang in the balance amid the uncertainty of their futures.
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Strengthening African democracies: Lessons from the continent
Africa’s journey toward democratic governance has been marked by progress, setbacks, and invaluable lessons. Since the wave of independence in the mid-20th century, the continent has seen an evolution in governance models, with democracy gradually becoming a central aspiration for many nations. While challenges persist, there is a growing recognition of the need to strengthen democratic systems, enhance accountability, and ensure governance that serves the people.
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Disinformation wars: Protecting democracy in Africa’s digital age
Research by Chinasa T. Okolo, a fellow in the Center for Technology at Brookings suggests that advances in digital technology within Africa has inadvertently created an opportunity for the proliferation of disinformation across the continent. Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI) is being used as a tool to advance disinformation through the creation of content that manipulates public opinion, and spreads false narratives, posing a direct threat to democracy.
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The role of youth in reclaiming democracy in Africa
The youth have consistently played a pivotal role in shaping democracy, driving progress toward fairness, justice, and development. Across the globe, and especially in Africa—the youngest continent demographically—their contributions have been significant, whether intentional or incidental. From the anti-colonial movements that began with Ghana's landmark democratic independence to the powerful youth-led revolt of 1976 in South Africa, young people have always been at the forefront of agitating for democratic freedom and equity.
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Are governments doing enough to defend women's gains in democracy and governance?
At the 64th Congress of Liberal International in Santiago, Chile, women leaders convened to discuss their experiences, challenges, and victories. Despite progress, significant challenges and inequalities persist. Women remain underrepresented in leadership positions, particularly in top decision-making roles. They often face discrimination, bias, and limited access to resources and opportunities.
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How Vladimir Putin got checkmated in South Africa - Takeaways for team Trump
On May 29, 2024, at polling station in Pretoria, South Africa, attached to an election study tour as an advisor to the country's leading opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), during the most consequential election since Nelson Mandela rose to the Presidency in the first post-Apartheid, all-race, political contest, I witnessed with great satisfaction how Vladimir Putin learned the same lesson Ellen taught me.
Social Media
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🔎 Reimagining Global Finance: Public Debt and Fragility in Developing Economies! As debt distress tightens its grip on developing countries, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom last week welcomed policymakers, economists, and development experts to interrogate a global financial system that too often sustains fragility rather than resilience. 📉 56 developing countries are at risk of default. 📊 17 now spend more on interest than on health or education. 🌍 Less than 1% of global public debt is held by low-income countries—yet they bear the brunt of its consequences. This roundtable marked the launch of our new flagship policy paper: 📘 "Public Debt in Developing Economies and the Global Financial Architecture" by Dr Aaron Thegeya. 📥 Download the paper here: https://www.freiheit.org/publikation/public-debt-developing-economies-and-global-financial-architecture At the heart of the conversation: the urgent need for a financial architecture that enables development not constrains it. Experts called for bold reforms, from state-contingent debt instruments to debt-for-climate swaps, and greater transparency in public finance. Dr Thegeya’s analysis made the case plainly: "Debt fragility is systemic. It is time to restructure not just the debt but the system that sustains it." The message was clear: without urgent reform, the Global South will remain trapped in a cycle of borrowing that hinders, rather than helps, progress. #FNFreedomFromDebt
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The final Womentorship training in Harare wrapped on 6–8 June 2025! Now in its 4th year, the programme has empowered over 450 young women in media with skills in journalism, fact-checking, political reporting, podcasting, AI tools & more. We’re proud to help shape confident, credible journalists ready to transform newsrooms and defend media freedom. #NoPressNoFreedom #SaveTheMedia
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