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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Omicron in South Africa: a sour note
“We are deeply disappointed by the decision of several countries to prohibit travel from several Southern African countries following the identification of the Omicron variant. This is a clear and completely unjustified departure from the commitment that many of these countries made at the meeting of G20 countries in Rome last month. These restrictions are unjustified and unfairly discriminate against our country.”
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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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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. Members of the media were invited to a press briefing and Q & A session with Bobi Wine 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 that the international community continues to work with President Yoweri Museveni.
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The story of Jacob Zuma and Al Capone
On Tuesday, South Africa’s apex court found former President Jacob Zuma to be in contempt of court and sentenced him to a term of 15 months imprisonment. The Constitutional Court’s decision is a resounding affirmation of the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law. The court’s message is crystal clear: all are equal before the law and subject to its sanctions, even a former president.
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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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East Africa Needs a Liberal Restart to Protect and Promote Civil Liberties
The past year has been hard for East Africans. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the health and economies of our nations. As the threat of further waves persist and international travel, tourism and business remains largely on hold, things will continue to be difficult. We face a long road ahead in navigating a path to economic recovery and a challenging vaccine roll-out.
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The Impact of Covid-19 on the African Economy
The impact of Covid-19 on whole of the global economy is no longer in doubt. As the Covid-19 epidemic progresses, the outlook for economic growth is lowered. Indeed, the spread of Covid-19 has forced states to take measures that have an impact on the economy, namely the closing of borders, the closing of shops, total or partial lockdowns, etc. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), we are heading towards a drop in global...
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"Check Your Freedom" do the quiz!
Do you decide how you live and love; or should someone else decide for you? Take a quick “Your Freedom Check” quiz. You will learn something new about yourself. The quiz will take you through scenarios that depict freedom of expression, freedom of the press, social market economy, property rights, freedom of association and the rule of law.
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Uganda’s election violence cycle worsens as Bobi Wine’s Opposition puts Museveni on his toes
Thursday, January 14, Ugandans will elect a “new president” and members of parliament.
It will be a contest of numbers, even before the first ballot is cast in a bid to determine who between National Unity Platform candidate Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi and incumbent Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of National Resistance Movement (NRM) will lead Uganda. -
Cry, the beloved country – South Africa’s shambolic vaccination situation
The second wave of the Corona pandemic has hit South Africa with full force. But the government has no plan for procuring vaccines, nor for distributing them. Mass vaccination requires months of preparation, the establishment of complex control systems, and the strategic deployment of resources. None of this necessary preparation has yet taken place.
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The FNF Human Rights Report
“Human rights are the only universal language,” says Abdel-Rahman Zbibh, the winner of this year's Raif Badawi Award, explaining what has motivated his human rights and journalist work in the Yemen, which continues to be at war. This report makes an important contribution to the understanding that the commitment to human rights is more crucial than ever in times of dwindling global freedoms.
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International Human Rights Day Special with Bobi Wine and Nicholas Opiyo
In this episode we have two guests from Uganda visiting us. Nicholas Opiyo, a leading human rights lawyer and founder of Chapter Four Uganda, an organisation that provides research, advocacy, and outreach services to contribute to laws, policies, and practices in the interest of civil liberties and human rights.
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Zimbabwe After Mugabe with David Coltart and Dumisani Muleya
On the second episode of Let’s Talk Human Rights podcast, we travel to Zimbabwe. About a year ago, the former president, Robert Mugabe, passed away at the age of 95. After 37 years in power, he was overthrown in a military coup only two years earlier, in 2017. Mugabe's successor Emmerson Mnangagwa spoke of reforms for the country in that he now affectionately refers to as a new dispensation and second republic.
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South Africa's Dark Past and Present with Judge Edwin Cameron
In this very first episode, we start our journey in South Africa. We interview the well renowned South African lawyer and retired judge from South Africa’s Constitutional Court, Judge Edwin Cameron, who is in conversation with Nangamso Kwinana of the Africa Liberal Network. Judge Cameron gives us deep insights into South Africa's dark past and discusses the current human rights problems.
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The Two Key Audiences I Live For: Women and ‘Deviant’ Groups
A few months later, I joined African Women and Child Feature Services as an intern. One of my assignments was to cover the World Social Forum which took place at the beginning of 2007. The fact that Kenya was hosting the World Social Forum was something of a big deal, a historic moment. While it was generally quite interesting, the two most memorable sessions for me, which I ended up writing about, were the session at the women’s rights tent and the LGBTQ tent.
Social Media
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Call for application open: Study grants for Master’s-level programme at UMEF University – Switzerland The scholarship is a programme designed by the Liberal International president Dr Hakima el Haité and President of Senegal, Macky Sall. There are 1000 scholarships available, per year, over five years. The online course is for students from Africa to apply for master’s level study. The deadline is Friday, 28 January 2022 2022. PS: The course will be delivered only in French in the first year. https://liberal-international.org/news-articles/study-grants-to-swiss-umef-university-call-for-application-now-open/
