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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Why we need to take sides
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom opens its new office in Johannesburg at a time when there is much debate about the value of that very freedom. A value, that is indispensable for the self determined development of human beings and for democracy. Today, there are more autocratic states than democratic states in the world. The list of dictatorial regimes that oppress their people remains consistently long. African countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Libya and the Central African Republic are consumed by brutal civil wars. In Europe, a war of conquest is being waged for the first time since the Second World War. Why should war and conflict concern us? Deputy chairperson at FNF, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, gave a speech on the question.
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Africa’s growing geo-political influence
Three back-to-back visits by major world powers to Africa ahead of February’s African Union Summit follow a flurry of important diplomatic visits in 2022, including by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron. Together, they signal attention to Africa’s rising political and economic bargaining power globally, which has been brought into sharp focus by the Russian war in Ukraine. “It’s a sign of increased attention to the continent.”
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EU summit on migration: far from consensus
On February 9 and 10, a special summit was held in Brussels to focus on the EU's migration policy. One of the topics at the summit was the European Union's cooperation with relevant countries of origin in joint migration management. What was not addressed was the fact that many people set out precisely because they have no legal means of entry. However, the polarizing issue that continues to divide member states became a sideshow in light of Ukrainian Prime Minister Selenskyi's visit.
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Concerns rife over shrinking press freedom in Kenya
Media practioners in Kenya have raised concerns over growing threats and attacks on journalists and media organisations with the regime change since September this year. In what is seen as direct onslaught on the media and infringement on press freedom, journalists, editors and media associations say there is course for worry as the media and journalists are unable to execute their duties professionally and independently since the August 2022 General Election.
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A President Under Pressure
Many believe that President Ramaphosa would be the only one who can save the party from electoral disaster, but a scathing report released in November, with just over two weeks to go to the conference, exposed Ramaphosa as potentially much less clean than the corruption-fighting leader he has thus far been. The report - compiled by an independent panel appointed by parliament and headed by a retired chief justice found that there might be grounds for impeachment.
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Shani: fighting against sexual violence towards children
FNF Tanzania launches an animated video series called Shani. The release of the video series will coincide with the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Towards Women and Children campaign from 25 November - 10 December 2022. Shani is a young ordinary girl from a village in Tanzania. Her secret is that she has the ability to transform and access her superpowers to fight monsters who find sneaky ways to enter into their lives with an aim to cause harm.
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The Dilemma of Whistleblowers of Corruption in Africa
“Corruption in Africa really fights, this doesn’t mean that corruption doesn’t fight elsewhere, but corruption in Africa fights hard,” Pusetso Morapedi of the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF). She was speaking in a panel discussion on the SABCNews programme, It’s Topical on Sunday, 6 November 2022. The show assembled a panel discussion of a dozen whistleblowers who blew the lid on corruption at state owned enterprises and the private sector.
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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 Wrong Side of Right, Counting the Cost for Whistleblowers." Welcome to Season 4 of the Let's Talk Human Rights podcast. In the first episode of the new season, host Masechaba Mdaka is joined by whistleblower Mathapelo More and Pusetso Morapedi of the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa. Why is it that whistleblowers bear the brunt by being crucified for the truth while the perpetrators of corruption enjoy the benefits of protection and impunity? Listen to Mathapelo More's story of courage in the face of agressive adversity here: https://iono.fm/e/1291652
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The FNF #Liberal Workshop in #CapeTown will be releasing a series looking at the history of the #SouthAfrican #HumanRightsDay in particular, drawing attention to the connection between this day and the history of #Langa township in Cape Town as it celebrates 100 years. #Langa100
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Africa Leadership Academy Model African Union 10th anniversary conference - “An inclusive Africa, a future for all.” The event will look at the future of Africa and how young people can intervene and inform how they want leadership should look like and for solutions to problems that will affect their future. In discussion are topics such as #energy #humanrights #education #innovation #ruleoflaw! FNF Africa is supporting two initiatives at the conference. The first one is titled “Africa’s New Age, the Energy Climate Conundrum” which is facilitated by specialist consultant in hydro-energy and environmental science Khanyiselo Khumalo. The second is on #humanrights and the African Courts. Expert Michael Gyan Nyarko unpacks the issues surrounding countries in conflict and framing motions to probe and propose ways and understanding individual country responses versus interstate mechanisms to resolve conflict.
