insert_link Africa Senegal: Macky Sall’s reputation is dented, but the former president did a lot at home and abroad By Douglas Yates, American Graduate School in Paris (AGS) Macky Sall’s legacy as Senegal’s president since 2012 became more complex in his last year in office. The year was so filled with transgressions that they appeared to have tarnished his reputation indelibly. For some months he gave the impression to his adversaries and critics that he had third-term ambitions – not uncommon in contemporary west African politics. […] today26 March, 2024
insert_link World South Sudan opposition protests party registration fee hike South Sudanese opposition parties protested Monday at an "exorbitant" $50,000 fee to register ahead of the fragile country's first ever elections, branding it a slap in the face for democracy. The world's youngest nation is due to go to the polls by the end of the year under a 2018 peace deal, although the United Nations and others say key obstacles still need to be overcome if they […] today25 March, 2024
insert_link World UN migration chief warns about populist electioneering With 2024 set to see more elections worldwide than any previous year, Amy Pope, who last year became the first woman to head the UN's International Organization for Migration, says increasing anti-migrant rhetoric from politicians seeking to score points is harming societies. Pointing out that the fear-mongering is rarely rooted in what is happening on the ground, Pope told the AFP news agency that some countries where anti-migrant rhetoric is […] today22 March, 2024
insert_link Africa Investors watching Senegal election closely Foreign investors are keeping a close eye on Senegal’s upcoming election, already marred by delays and uncertainty, amid concerns over the political and economic direction in which key opposition leaders might take the country if voted into power. Al Jazeera reports that nineteen candidates are running in Sunday’s election, including former Prime Minister Amadou Ba, and Bassirou Diomaye Faye, a tax inspector running in place of jailed opposition figure Ousmane Sonko. While […] today22 March, 2024
insert_link World The West can’t ‘solve’ its Russia problem. Here’s how it should handle 6 more years of Vladimir Putin By Peter Tesch, Australian National University In perhaps the least surprising news of the year, Vladimir Putin has triumphed at the Russian ballot box and been enthroned for the fifth time as president. He will serve for six more years. He will be 77 years old in 2030. According to the constitution, which he re-wrote to his benefit in 2020, he then could stand again for a further […] today20 March, 2024
insert_link South Africa South Africa’s election management body has done a good job for 30 years: here’s why By Dirk Kotze, University of South Africa More than in previous elections, South Africa’s Electoral Commission (IEC) will be tested to the hilt in this year’s national and provincial elections on 29 May. For the first time in 30 years, the electoral majority of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is in jeopardy. This makes the upcoming poll the most consequential one since 1994, when the country […] today20 March, 2024
insert_link Videos Six more years: Putin claims landslide election victory in Russia Vladimir Putin has won a fifth term as president in a landslide election victory that had an all but certain outcome. Russia's number one faced no credible opposition candidates, amid a ruthless crackdown on dissent and critical voices. Russian election officials said Putin - who will now serve another six-year term on top of his nearly quarter-century rule - won more than 87% of the vote. Putin claimed Russia's democratic […] today18 March, 2024
insert_link World Russian elections: despite fixing the opposition, Vladimir Putin wants lots of people to vote for him By Natasha Lindstaedt, University of Essex Russians head to the polls this week in a presidential election that will almost certainly result in Vladimir Putin decisively winning yet another six-year term. When he does, it will make him the longest-serving leader since Joseph Stalin. Advance polling indicates he will earn 75% of the vote and face little or no meaningful opposition. His three main opponents are each […] today14 March, 2024
insert_link Health / Medical America Worries About Health Costs — And Voters Want to Hear From Biden and Republicans (ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS) By Julie Appleby and Phil Galewitz via KFF Health News President Joe Biden is counting on outrage over abortion restrictions to help drive turnout for his reelection. Former President Donald Trump is promising to take another swing at repealing Obamacare. But around America’s kitchen tables, those are hardly the only health topics voters want to hear about in the 2024 campaigns. A new KFF tracking poll shows that health care […] today5 March, 2024
