Democratic

On Sunday, voters in Romania will head to the polls for the second time in just six months to elect a new president. This repeat election follows a tumultuous political landscape and a significant decision made by Romania's constitutional court last December, which annulled the previous vote due to alleged campaign irregularities. The central figure in this heated debate is Călin Georgescu, a candidate who unexpectedly topped the first round of the November election. As a 62-year-old engineer and professor, Georgescu…

In a significant development, Southern African troops have commenced their evacuation from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following a tumultuous period marked by conflict and casualties. This withdrawal comes in light of a harrowing January offensive launched by the M23 armed group, which has left a grim toll—a heartbreaking loss of 17 soldiers. The decision to retreat was made by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), reflecting the dire situation on the ground. The SADC Mission in the Democratic…

Mogadishu (AX) — On a Wednesday that held the promise of progress, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud convened the third Somalia-European Union Partnership Meeting in the heart of Mogadishu. This gathering wasn’t merely ceremonial; it was a reaffirmation of the robust relationship between Somalia and the European Union (EU), a bond fortified by mutual aspirations outlined in the Joint Operational Roadmap, an ambitious guide launched back in May 2023. As the sun filtered through the windows of the meeting room,…

On April 8, former President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo made a significant announcement: after six years of relative silence and one year spent in exile, he would be returning to his homeland. This decision comes in the wake of an increasingly dire security situation in eastern Congo, a region that has struggled with violence and instability for decades. Reflecting on his time away, Kabila explained that he had opted to suspend his studies in South Africa in March, pivoting his focus to the mounting…

In a devastating turn of events, Virunga National Park, Africa's oldest national park located in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, has been the scene of an alarming tragedy. Recently, the lifeless bodies of approximately 50 hippos and other large mammals were discovered, painting a haunting picture of nature's fragility. Authorities confirmed that laboratory analyses indicated these animals succumbed to anthrax, a highly infectious disease instigated by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. This pathogen poses a serious…

The Unlikely Beacon of Democracy: North Western State of Somalia's Journey As a child, I naively thought of democracy as a Greek invention, an intricate art only suited to those ancient pillars of Western philosophy. This wasn't a surprising thought, especially growing up in Ethiopia where democracy is more a dream than reality. However, little did I realize that just across the border, a quiet revolution was taking place. In North Western State of Somalia, a place branded by some, including Google, as unstable and…

The ongoing conflict in Eastern Congo has taken a turn for the worse, drawing the attention of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In a heartfelt plea, Rubio has urged for an immediate ceasefire, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis that continues to escalate. The Congolese military is currently facing a daunting challenge from the Rwandan-backed M23 militia, whose swift advances are creating chaos in an already volatile region. This area, rich in minerals, has become a battleground not only for…

The situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has deteriorated into chaos as conflicts flare between the Congolese army and the Rwandan-supported M23 rebels. This escalation has forced nearly 80,000 individuals to flee to neighboring countries, a grim statistic reported by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). What's more, in just a fortnight at the end of February, over 800 cases of rape were documented by humanitarian organizations, underscoring a horrifying trend of violence against civilians. These acts of…

The political landscape of Gabon is undergoing significant transformation under the leadership of Brice Oligui Nguema. The country, nestled in the heart of West Africa, found itself at a crossroads when Nguema seized power in a coup on August 30, 2023. A nation rich in oil and natural resources, Gabon has since been charting a new course towards democracy and governance. This story of change took another remarkable turn with Nguema's recent announcement: his intention to stand for the presidency. The announcement came as…

The military junta, under the leadership of Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, has once again faltered, neglecting another deadline for restoring democracy in Guinea. This delay in the transition to civilian governance was outlined in an agreement forged in 2022 with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), concluding a long, tumultuous year of discussions. The long-awaited process intended to initiate preparations for the 2025 elections had been scheduled to commence on New Year's Day. Yet, instead of rallying the…