election

As the German snap elections approach their climax, the stakes couldn't be higher. Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the leading contender for the Chancellor's seat, has made a fervent commitment: to reinstate Germany as a predominant force within Europe. This audacious vow comes in a context fraught with uncertainty and challenges. In this peculiar political climate, the campaign trail has been inadvertently overshadowed by a surge in support for the far-right Alternative for Germany…

Mogadishu (AX) – It's a sunny Saturday, and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has a reason to beam with pride. This afternoon, he extended his heartfelt congratulations to Djibouti's Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, who recently achieved the notable milestone of being elected as the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. An occasion worth celebrating, no doubt. Imagine, for a moment, the intricate dance of diplomacy that played out at the bustling AU summit in Addis Ababa. Underneath the grandeur of the…

President Will Ruto addresses Wajir residents during his North Eastern tour on February 5th, 2025. President William Ruto's recent journey across North Eastern Kenya has stirred a complex array of questions and controversies, shaking the dusty plains where political ambitions converge with historical anomalies. Is this sojourn about redressing the historical marginalization of the Somali community in Kenya, or does it signal an opportunistic ploy to bolster electoral figures with potential foreign influence? As the 2027…

Mogadishu (AX) — Imagine a bustling city square in Mogadishu, where purposeful steps echo on the pavement, and the air is charged with political ambitions tinged with skepticism. Somalia’s federal government finds itself in an ideological whirlpool, debating the merits and pitfalls of extending regional state leaders’ terms. This move, they argue, is a deliberate gambit toward transforming Somalia's electoral landscape into a "one person, one vote" democracy—a tantalizing prospect for many but fraught with complexities and…

Mogadishu (AX) – The city thrummed with its usual chaotic charm as former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed convened with James Swan, the Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, on a Thursday that seemed like any other—yet was anything but. Their dialogue, set against the backdrop of a sunlit Somali sky, ventured into the intricate political topography of a nation still finding its footing amidst shifting sands. What does one discuss when the very tapestry of a country's democracy hangs in…

Jowhar (AX) – On an ordinary Tuesday, the heart of Jowhar buzzed with unusual activity, as if aware that history was quietly being scripted within its folds. A delegation from Somalia's National Electoral Commission and Boundaries descended upon the city's worn, dusty streets, with an unmistakable sense of urgency that seemed to echo through the air. Their mission? A straightforward, yet monumental task—to meet with Hirshabelle President Ali Abdullahi Hussein Guudlawe. The gathering was a mere two days post a similar visit…

For nearly three decades, Alexander Lukashenko has stared defiantly from the presidential palace in Belarus, and recently, he secured his seventh consecutive term in what many are calling a farcical election. The results, according to an official exit poll, claim that a whopping 87.6 percent of voters cast their ballots for the 70-year-old incumbent. This election has been widely criticized by both exiles and the European Union, branding it a travesty of democracy. With major opposition figures either languishing in jail or…

Somalia's Democratic Leap: The Road to One-Person, One-Vote Mogadishu (AX) — In the bustling corridors of Somalia's political heart, the visionary journey toward a one-person, one-vote electoral system is unfurling with vibrant ambition. On a crisp Monday morning, Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, the steely chairperson of Somalia’s Electoral Commission, engaged in earnest dialogue with the European Union Ambassador, Karin Johansson. Their tête-à-tête was a symphony of democratic dreams and international solidarity.…

In a move that has sent ripples of optimism through the financial markets, Gabon's transitional government declared that presidential elections are set to take place on April 12, 2025. This announcement marks a significant step towards restoring civilian governance in a country that has seen its fair share of turmoil. Just picture it: a nation where military tanks once rolled through the streets under the leadership of General Brice Oligui Nguem, who led a coup against former president Ali Bongo in 2023, following a…

On December 29, 2024, the air in Chad buzzed with anticipation, but the results have unleashed a whirlwind of controversy. The Constitutional Council has officially endorsed the parliamentary election outcome, declaring the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), led by transitional president Mahamat Idriss Deby, the victors. Yet, as celebrations erupt in government circles, the opposition cries foul, alleging that this democratic exercise was less of a contest and more of a calculated maneuver. Clement Sianka, a…