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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UPDATED: Tsitsi Dangarembga Trial - 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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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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Promoting Women Empowerment Through Football
“Sport has a vital role to play in promoting women's rights. It offers women and girls vastly underestimated opportunities to assert themselves as independent individuals in patriarchal societies. This requires low-threshold access to sports – with more trained female coaches, an improved infrastructure and enhanced club structures. Numerous organisations are promoting women's football in Africa, but development is still proceeding slowly.
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Uganda after the January 14 Presidential Elections with opposition leader Bobi Wine
Bobi Wine was in South Africa at the invitation of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom. The media was invited to a press briefing and Q & A session with opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi to reflect on Uganda's January 2021 election, and the current state of human rights in country. A few months after the elections, Bobi Wine says he's disappointed and questions motives on why the international community continues to work with President Yoweri Museveni.
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The Freedom Festival : 27 September 2021
Through their music, BANTU and Bobi Wine call for tolerance, the right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression. The musicians openly speak out against corruption and injustice in their countries and in the region. Their questioning and critical response to what they consider human rights violations have led to arrests, indictments, torture and strict surveillance especially that of Bobi Wine. The Foundation collaborated with the musicians, including Zolani Mahola and the MIAGI Youth Orchestra.
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It is Official, Hakainde Hichilema is President of the Republic of Zambia
It was a colourful gathering at Lusaka's National Heroes Stadium. Zambian people gathered along with many international dignitaries for a celebratory yet "modest" Presidential inauguration of the 7th President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema. In an inaugural speech which mapped the leader’s vision and plans to move Zambia forward, a promise to put human rights, rule of law, press freedom and economic growth at the centre of their administrations goals was made.
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Will Zambia’s elections 2021 be free and fair?
This election period has certainly seen an uneven playing field. Zambia is one of the fastest declining democracies globally. Arbitrary arrests and detentions without charge have become commonplace with Hakainde Hichilema having been detained on 15 occasions. Although COVID-19 restrictions have prevented parties from campaigning in the usual ways, President Edgar Lungu and his running mate have continued touring the country on ‘official business’, Hichilema can't!
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Initiating, Planning and Managing Coalitions
FNF is privileged to have representations by the esteemed panellists and contributors to discuss and unpack similarities, challenges and best practices against the experiences shared in the new ALN Handbook. ALN’s strategic partners, Democrats 66 (D66) and People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), reflect on the collaboration of documented testimonies and experiences of ALN member parties in their journeys of learning and working through varying examples.
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No Future for Africa Without Equal Access to Education for Women
Women empowerment has been at the core of the Foundations work in sub-Saharan Africa for a number of years now. There are issues that existed before the pandemic that will most likely exist post the pandemic. What then can be done now to drive a new narrative along with the new normal to ensure that the African agenda for women empowerment and gender equality doesn’t fall away as the world relooks into the future?
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Sheroes Empowered to Empower
Women empowerment has been at the core of the Foundations work in sub-Saharan Africa for a number of years now. There are issues that existed before the pandemic that will most likely exist post the pandemic. What then can be done now to drive a new narrative along with the new normal to ensure that the African agenda for women empowerment and gender equality doesn’t fall away as the world relooks into the future? The best way is to learn through experience.
Social Media
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VACANCY: The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom is looking for an enthusiastic freedom-lover who wants to join our team in Johannesburg to work full-time as Regional Project Assistant on issues such as liberal democracy, human rights, economic freedom and innovation in Africa. The Regional Project Assistant reports directly to the Regional Director sub-Saharan Africa.
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Reflecting on LGBT+ rights in Africa #PrideMonth The LGBT+ community is mostly forced to remain behind closed doors due to safety and legal concerns in most of Africa, something that needs to change in parallel to global trends. ℹ️ https://freiheit.org/sub-saharan-africa/reflecting-lgbt-rights-africa
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The European Union's influence in Africa is rapidly diminishing, whilst China's influence is simultaneously rising. This is proven by the African Perceptions of the European Union and China Engagement study results commissioned by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in East Africa. The first study among more than 1600 decision-makers from 25 African countries 👉 https://shop.freiheit.org/#!/Publikation/1278… The study further holds recommendations for both European politicians and policymakers, and African policymakers.
