YOTA - Youth Opportunity & Transformation in Africa’s Post

In less than 48 hours, millions of Ghanaians will head to polling stations across the country to elect the next leader of this vibrant West African nation. This marks the ninth general election under Ghana’s Fourth Republic, a significant milestone in the country’s democratic journey. As Ghana approaches this crucial moment, a newly released policy brief from the recent West Africa Civil Society Policy Dialogue Series (WACPoDiS), hosted by WACSI, highlights vital recommendations from key stakeholders. These stakeholders included representatives from the Electoral Commission of Ghana, contesting political parties, the security sector, diplomatic missions, CSOs and the United Nations. The brief offers actionable insights to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process and strengthen democratic governance. Access the full policy brief here: https://bit.ly/3Vowab2

Edo State Civil Society Situation Room: Holding Leaders Accountable! The Edo State Civil Society Situation Room, comprising five dedicated organizations, has completed a comprehensive observation of the recently concluded 2024 governorship elections. As we move forward, we are committed to following up on the electoral promises made by our politicians. Our goal is to ensure transparency and accountability in governance, fostering a stronger relationship between the government and the citizens of Edo State. Our Plan: - Monitor the fulfillment of electoral promises. - Engage with stakeholders and the community to gather insights. - Report regularly on progress and challenges. - Advocate for accountability in governance. Together, we can create a more responsive and responsible government. Let’s hold our leaders accountable to their promises! #EdoState #CivicEngagement #Accountability #Governance #CivilSociety #2024Elections Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office USAID Misereor Caritas Nigeria Department for International Development (DFID) Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA David Ugolor Leo Atakpu

In the wake of the recent presidential elections in Mauritania, the country has been thrust into a state of repression and unrest. Since the election results were announced, the government has imposed an Internet blackout, effectively silencing dissent and preventing the free flow of information. This drastic measure raises serious questions about the state of democracy in Mauritania and the legitimacy of leaders who claim to support the president. The situation on the ground is dire. Reports indicate that numerous citizens have been arrested, and there have been tragic instances of violence resulting in deaths. These actions are not just violations of human rights; they are an affront to the principles of democracy and justice that Mauritania purports to uphold. It is crucial for the international community to take note and hold the Mauritanian government accountable. True democracy cannot thrive under the shadow of repression and fear. We must stand in solidarity with those fighting for their rights and demand transparency, justice, and the restoration of fundamental freedoms in Mauritania. #HumanRights #Mauritania #Democracy #InternetShutdown #JusticeForAll #StandWithMauritania

GNUs and Coalitions in Africa. Government of National Unity (GNU) laws should be enshrined in every African constitution in case of inconclusive election results. Where a GNU situation arises, there should be a certain percentage of MPs chosen from outside political parties in order to reflect a truly united nation. This percentage of outsiders will include members of civil society, disadvantaged groups, business and the clergy. There is often confusion understanding the difference between grand coalition and government of national unity. Political parties choose whichever terminology that sells their narrative better. It appears the era of landslide victories in developing democracies may well be a thing of the past. Africans should be prepared for more GNUs and Coalitions in the future as is the case in most European Countries and democratic Asian states like Japan and others. Legislating for GNU/Coalition governments in future is the way to go and is inclusive. South Africa joins countries like Kenya, Zimbabwe and Libya which have had GNUs before with mixed results.

In Progress… We’ve started today’s session with a panel discussion titled, "Spotlight on Togo: Safeguarding Against Power Consolidation and Promoting Peaceful Transitions of Power in Africa." This plenary aims to address the critical issues of democratic governance and political stability in Africa. Togo has recently become a focal point for concerns about power consolidation due to significant constitutional changes made by the ruling Union for the Republic (UNIR) party. These changes include the elimination of citizens' direct right to vote for the president and the establishment the President of the Council of Ministers, elected by the National Assembly, entrenching the ruling party's dominance and extends the current president's tenure, bypassing the previous term limits established to prevent long-term rule. We are excited to have: ✅Hon. Kokou Dodji Apevon, National President, Forces Démocratiques Pour La République (FDR) - Togo; ✅Dr. Stefanie Brinkel, Director, Regional Programme Political Dialogue, West Africa; ✅Amb Bamba Youssoufou, Executive Secretary, Foreign Relations, PDCI-RDA - Ivory Coast and ✅Hon. Fana Norman Mkhonza, Deputy Secretary General, African Christian Democratic Party - South Africa contribute to this discussion. #2024DUAConference #KASPolDiSSA

What’s next for Haiti, and who should decide its future? U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is currently visiting Haiti, with the U.S. continuing its role as a key ally, recently announcing more aid for the crisis-ridden country. Blinken also mentioned that the Haitian government should prepare for elections next year. I was struck by an interview on BBC News, where a Haitian expert argued that the US should reverse its approach and that Haitians themselves should determine the path forward. I couldn't agree more. The repeated interventions and solutions imposed from outside have yet to resolve Haiti's crises. Isn't it time we rethink these strategies? For one, we need to ask if elections alone can deliver stability. Evidence from other contexts suggests this isn't a straightforward link. Elections won't address the gang violence or bridge deep societal divides. So, is a National Dialogue a better way forward? Perhaps—but even then, history shows that such dialogues can be politicized and exclusionary. Ultimately, what comes next for Haiti must be decided by Haitians. Comparative evidence teaches us that excluding key voices only deepens conflict, while broad and genuine inclusion holds the potential for progress. The international community, including the US, should step back and support Haitians in crafting a path that is truly theirs. #InclusiveDialogue #InclusivePeace #SupportHaiti

#LetEngageYouThisMorning 1994 in South Africa saw the transition from South Africa's National Party government who had ruled the country since 1948 and had advocated the apartheid system for most of its history, to the African National Congress (ANC) who had been outlawed in South Africa since the 1950s for its opposition to apartheid. Eversince the National Congress seat in power, after each an every 5 years of election, there is a new entrats of polical parties with the priority to achieve the following : Growing the economy and jobs Building better lives Figting corruption Making communities safer Making government work My question is, are we there yet, is our political parties assisting to achieve ths above or its just useless to encourage people, especially young people to vote?

“It is worth noting that apart from the ethnically oriented political parties that initiated the ideology of genocide and carried out the genocide itself, all the other political parties that emerged at a time when multiparty politics was re-emerging in Africa continue to participate in Rwanda’s ruling coalition. This situation is significant because, in many African countries, most of the political parties that emerged during the advent of multipartyism have died, morphed into other coalitions or been swallowed up by other coalitions. Indeed, others have been special purpose vehicles, activated in the run-up to elections only to collapse thereafter. So Rwanda’s multiparty system is arguably one of the most stable in Africa, in the sense that the same parties have been in power for decades, since the early 1990s, while those that emerged after that time and chose to operate outside the coalition have had negligible political success in terms of their growth.” https://lnkd.in/d3eAiGyg

South Africa sailed firmly into unchartered political waters when national election results showed the ANC’s share of the vote drop to 40% – an incredible 17 percentage points lower than 2019. Most, though not all, of these votes went to the new MK Party, headed by former President Jacob Zuma. Ironically, Zuma is still technically an ANC member. While the election outcome was a surprise (the local and international investment community expected ANC support in the 45% - 50% range), it also suggests that South Africa’s democracy is maturing. Despite its big losses, the ANC quickly accepted the outcome. South Africa will be governed by a formal or informal coalition over the next five years, but what form that coalition takes is yet to be determined at the time of writing. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ec9TVUqF #oldmutualwealth #privateclient #curatedwealth #beyondwealth #PrivateClientsbyOldMutualWealth

In South Africa’s election of 29 May, the ANC lost its majority for the first time since coming to power in 1994. We expect the ANC to form a coalition with the centre-right Democratic Alliance – but what will this mean for South Africa? Our Director, Sub-Saharan Africa Research, Matthew Kindinger, considers coalition prospects ahead and the impact on business and investor sentiment. Watch his video now 👇 #southafrica #ANCcoalition #geopolitics