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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Inspiring Women 2022
People have their own sets of expectations towards women, especially when it comes to leadership roles. It is not easy and I realised that all over the world, women are facing common challenges that men do not face in the same leadership roles. Our communities expect so much from women but at the same time, they need us to be careful and follow their rules. Our societies think that if a woman becomes a leader or politician, she should not dress in a certain way and she should communicate in a certain way, something that is not expected from men.
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Tsitsi Dangarembga – A Case of Freedoms and Reforms on Trial
Tsitsi Dangarembga and Julie Barnes are accused of unlawfully demonstrating against corruption, calling for media and political freedom. They are further charged with attending an illegal public gathering and contravening COVID-19 regulations. Fungisai Sithole, Project Manager at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom office in Harare, Zimbabwe, attended the trial at the Rotten Row Magistrate Court in Harare.
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THE CLASH OF SYSTEMS: African Perceptions of the European Union and China Engagement
“The African survey participants hold up a mirror to European policy on Africa and expose Europe’s sometimes still paternalistic and romantic view of Africa. Europe's belief in the superiority of its own values contrasts with the pragmatic view of Africans on the performance and behaviour of the two partners (the EU and China)," says Stefan Schott, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in East Africa Project Director.
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Calling young innovators: Pitch your idea on a global stage
With her innovative research in these cells, Emmie Chiyindiko impressed the judges at the Falling Walls Lab Cape Town, co-hosted by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and the University of Cape Town. ‘Falling Walls Labs’ are events held around the world in which budding innovators have just three minutes to pitch a groundbreaking idea that stands to change the world for the better. The winners of these international labs come together in Berlin, Germany each year.
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The Journey from OAU to AU: Security Remains a Key Concern in Africa
The Malabo extraordinary summit is going to afford the continental body the opportunity to re-look what it once adopted in 2020 to silence the guns. The African Union Peace and Security Council expressed its grave concern over the persistence of conflict in the continent. As the continent seeks to rebuild itself, there are worries that this has been triggered by several factors like the trend of civilians acquiring arms for protection during situations of conflict.
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The Effects of Low Vaccinations Numbers in the Region
Meanwhile, low vaccination rates in the region have also hit vaccine makers in Africa who hoped to use demand for vaccines to generate orders. In May, a South African factory in Gqeberha said that it was on the verge of shutting down the production line it had set up to manufacture a version of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine because it had not received a single order for its product. “International agencies” are being blamed for not placing orders.
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Behind Zimbabwe’s Currency Woes
The Z$750 000 note shocked many as a bigger banknote, but the Z$100 billion-dollar note in 2008 stole the show, which remains named as the Guinness record world's highest denomination banknote notwithstanding the ensuing introduction of a Z$100 trillion dollar note. The 100 trillion-dollar note became part of Zimbabwe’s former central bank chief Gideon Gono's failed efforts at saving an economic Armageddon characterised by a feisty inflation and deficits...
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The DRC joins the East Africa Community bloc
On April 8, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) formally joined the East African Community (EAC), a regional trade and political bloc. Analysts say that both the DRC and its neighbours stand to benefit from the new arrangement, which will expand the EAC as far west as the Atlantic Ocean and further open Congo’s market of 90 million people to the region. But the DRC’s ongoing security challenges could also complicate its integration.
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The Shaky Peace Deal in South Sudan
According to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, more than 400 people were massacred in bitter rival militias in the country between June and September 2021. Kiir and Machar's militias allegedly committed the atrocities. The oil rich South Sudan has been engulfed in ethnic violence since December 2013 and over 400 000 people have died since the conflict started. South Sudanese entrusted the AU to ensure that justice is served and end the culture of impunity.
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COVID-19 Impact on Women Informal Cross Border Traders in Southern Africa
‘Women informal cross border traders’ (WICBTs) play a vital role in sustaining Africa’s economy. Estimates suggest that between 50% to 60% of total intra-African trade is informal, and in most regions in Africa, including Southern Africa, women constitute around 70% of informal cross border traders (ICBTs). WICBTs do not only support their families and communities, they also provide an important contribution to the domestic and regional economies of their countries.
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Rwanda’s Digital Free Speech Comes Under Siege
As Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame tightens his grip on power, freedom for many who have switched to digital media to find a footing for their voices has come under siege from the country’s regime. Rwanda’s YouTube bloggers & commentators have of late found themselves in trouble for using the platform to point out perceived negative government reports. It has been reported that more than 20 bloggers and YouTubers in Rwanda were detained or disappeared in 2020 alone.
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Russian Invasion on Ukraine: Impact on Africa
When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the effects immediately rippled out around the world. In sub-Saharan Africa, the conflict has thus far been felt most acutely as a commodities crisis, with prices of key goods imported from Russia and Ukraine already beginning to spike. But there are also diplomatic tensions brewing over the treatment of African students in Ukraine, as well as how African countries position themselves in relation to the conflict.
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Will Africa Rise to Sustain its Bold AfCFTA Project?
On paper, the African Continental Free Trade Area seeks to boost intra-Africa trade, create a formidable single market, push the movement of capital and people, realise the establishment of continental customs union, improve competitiveness in the continent and more. The first shipment sunder agreement took place on 4 January 2021. Even with the high hopes placed on the potential of the AfCFTA, Africans are not oblivious to the many challenges that are in the way.
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What's in Store for Africa for 2022?
January has passed, but what's in store for Africa for the rest of 2022? A number of countries will be hosting elections of some form in 2022. The eyes of the world will be on the African continent assessing whether there is progress on some thorns that have hindered Africa’s image in the past. Will we see a drop in human rights violations? Will there be efficient economic progress to lift people out of poverty. Or will it be more of the same talk and no action?
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The FNF Africa Freedom Prize - “Then, Now and Beyond”
The Africa Freedom Prize was introduced in 2016 and it honours outstanding personalities who provide decisive impulses for the development of liberal civil society in African countries. Today, well known South African media personality Redi Tlhabi hosts the Africa Freedom Prize — “Then, Now and Beyond” feature that is looking back at the past recipients of the award. More importantly, we reflect on where the continent is today and more.
Social Media
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The just concluded Kenya Elections saw more women running for office and winning, compared to the previous ones. At least seven of Kenya’s 47 incoming governors from these elections are women. This is in comparison to only three in the last government. The small but significant increase is said to be the results of efforts by state agencies working together to improve the political environment for female candidates. At least half of registered voters in Kenya are women, yet very few female leaders hold elective positions. Sources and references: https://www.freiheit.org/sub-saharan-...
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The first Falling Walls Lab Zimbabwe took place on 5 August in Harare. 16 pitches in 3 minutes with one winner getting an opportunity to pitch their concept at the global Falling Walls Lab event in Germany. It is Alluwaine Manyonga, with the concept "Falling walls of Unsustainable Lighting" who will be jetting off to Berlin. Alluwaine will also get to attend the Berlin Science Summit. The Summit is attended by world movers, leaders in technology, investors, and finalists from across the globe. Falling Walls Lab Zimbabwe is introduced to Zimbabwe by Emmie Chiyindiko, who is currently a Ph.D. candidate, an award-winning science communicator, and an event facilitator. She was herself a participator and winner in the Falling Walls Lab South Africa and now she has been upgraded to the founder of Zimbabwe's very first Falling Walls Lab. The programme is supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe, Deutsch-Connect, Zimbabwe Young Academy of Sciences. #Innovation #Freedom #Science #Technology #Investment #Changemaker #Leadership
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The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Sub-Saharan Africa, as part of the regional programme with Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa, co-hosted the Whistleblower House initiative on reporting and combatting #corruption through safe channels for Whistleblowers in Windhoek, Namibia. Together with the local implementing partners Institute for Public Policy Research and Namibia Institute for Democracy, a training session was organised with strategic stakeholders ranging from the Namibian Justice ministry, independent legal practitioners, banking sector, media, forensic audit office, Government Institution Pension Fund and, very importantly, the Anti Corruption Commission of Namibia, which is an agency of the executive branch of the government of Namibia. In this training workshop, the participants unpacked the legal framework and provisions of the Whistleblower Protection Act 10 of 2017 in Namibia to look at the implementation of equipping, protecting and advocating for the Act to come into effect. #CorruptionFree #Whistleblowers #Protection #RuleOfLaw
