Dijah Jawo’s Post

#Somaliland's #presidential #election on Nov 13th holds regional and international weight: It’s more than a democratic test—it’s a bid for stability in the Horn of Africa, and another milesotone on Somaliland's long-sought quest of independence recognition. As rival parties, #Kulmiye & #Waddani, vie for power, the world watches. Will this be a turning point for recognition? Read my latest article in The Conversation Africa to see if Somaliland’s fight for recognition will gain new momentum and what effect a win by the ruling or opposition party will have on peace and security in the region. With a potential sea access deal with #Ethiopia & plans to broaden international connections, the upcoming election could add clarity to the ongoing disputes with #Somalia, #Egypt and others. One thing is for sure: don't expect Somaliland to back down. #Independence #Africa #SomalilandElection2024 #HornOfAfrica

In 10 days, Edo State will hold its governorship elections, scheduled for 21 September 2024. This report provides an in-depth outline of the relatively limited political experience of the three candidates in the upcoming Edo governorship elections, as well as the influence of political patrons and godfathers, which could shape the election dynamics. It also addresses broader themes such as intra-party conflicts, zoning, and the influence of incumbency at both the state and federal levels. The findings of this report, gathered through interviews, fieldwork, and desk research, aim to contribute to the understanding of the political landscape in Edo State and its implications for Nigerian democracy under the Bola Tinubu administration. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dqa9dRQS #EdoDecides2024 #GovernorshipElections #Politics #REPORT

Prof. John Osae-Kwapong, D&D Fellow at the Center, reflects on the intensifying political landscape as Ghana approaches the December 7 elections. He urges us to heed the President's call for tolerance and civil discourse, noting that "our partisan edges have become much sharper, and our polarization is deepening." Read his insightful piece to explore how we can improve the quality of our public discourse and navigate the political heatwave. #PoliticalTolerance #CDDPublication #GhanaDecides2024

🛑 More than 60 countries are having elections in 2024 - but only three countries having elections are in the process of democratisation 🛑 Many of these elections will feature little political competition and will take place in so-called “third-wave autocracies”. This leaves opposition parties with several challenges to work through 🕊️ At Inclusive Peace, we work with democratic opposition political actors to respond to the challenges of political action in closed and closing autocracies. Political actors include parties voluntary organisations (unified by shared political goals, that aspire to govern through state institutions) and movements (collective efforts to achieve political goals through non-violent means). Democratic opposition actors are non-violent and committed to liberalising the political system, alongside other goals. Repressive political systems often feature these “big tent” pro-democracy coalitions, where diverse parties and movements put aside differences to coalesce around a minimal goal of pushing for a democratic system. Our approach is to “think with” our partners in confronting these challenges – recognizing that resisting and contesting power is a profoundly difficult task, and one for which there are not likely to be any easy answers. Part of our work involves preparing comparative and thematic analyses on the issues our partners confront: survival, growth, consolidation, and confrontation in repressive political environments.  In particular, our recent work has focused on issues of opposition movement building (internal coherence and unity), strategies in anticipation of upcoming elections (including boycotts), negotiated/brokered transitions, and strategies of autocratic survival. #electionyear2024 #DemocracyDay #oppositionparties #strategising

#SouthAfrica – Mission coalition Leader of the main opposition DA party, John Steenhuisen, has refuted allegations of holding secret negotiations with the ruling ANC party to form a coalition after the 29 May general elections. While talk of a coalition in national government began in the immediate aftermath of the 2021 municipal elections, it has gained momentum given strong indications that the ANC will fall below the 50 percent threshold. With such an electoral haul likely, the ANC will pivot between its choice of coalition partners based on the degree of electoral support it attains. Different party configurations will have differing personnel and policy permutations. An ANC majority or coalition with smaller parties would largely maintain the status quo; an ANC/DA coalition would yield pro-market reforms; and an ANC/EFF or ANC/MK coalition would result in populist and state-centric changes. Although an outside possibility, governance by the DA-led Multiparty Charter opposition alliance would yield the most substantial pro-market personnel and policy reforms. Our latest via #TheSignalRoom: https://lnkd.in/dFXQMqjx

A congressional report intricately examines the barriers to voting that exist for Native communities. "Native peoples continue to face substantial and unique barriers to equal participation in federal, state, and local elections," says Rep. Joseph D. Morelle. This report looks not only at specific history of tribal governments and their relationship with the United States but tracks how past events have manifested into modern difficulties regarding the Native right to vote. Read the report and learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gN9jX3wi

❓ How can constitutional rights of those excluded from voting be protected? Against the backdrop of South Africa's seventh democratic elections, and on the country's 30th anniversary of democracy, a few questions about the right to vote arise. 💡 Should the right to vote be extended beyond citizenry? 💡 If the current status quo were to be maintained, how would the rights of those excluded from voting be protected? Should you be interested in unpacking the above and more, please RSVP for the SAIFAC conference taking place at the University of Johannesburg next week! More details can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gr2rZy5A #KAS4Democracy

Electing leaders who will not give up power Democracy, defined as people choosing their leaders in free and fair elections, is a privilege that did not exist until the recent past: "In the late 18th century, no country could be meaningfully characterized as a democracy. Regimes of the World classifies almost all of them as closed autocracies, in which citizens do not have the right to choose their political leaders through elections. The world has recently become less democratic in part because voters have elected leaders who refused to give up power. I suggest that voters should reject candidates who are likely to retain power indefinitely and only support candidates who agree, in advance, to accept the election results. Otherwise, they are voting against democracy and for dictatorship. More at https://lnkd.in/eEyk6Qmk

#IVoted! As we approach what could be one of the closest elections in U.S. history, there are a few things to keep in mind: 1️⃣ Prepare for Uncertainty: With the potential for a 270-268 electoral split, results may be incredibly close. Anticipate delays, not only in the presidential race but also for congressional seats. 2️⃣ Turnout is Everything: Tomorrow’s turnout will heavily shape the outcomes. Where people vote and who shows up will have a big impact, especially in swing states. 3️⃣ APCO Insights & Analysis: Our bipartisan U.S. elections team is led by expert political strategists, Dan Scandling and Safiya Ghori-Ahmad, who have extensive experience advising on elections, policy and politics. Let me put you in touch!

Ireland's Year of Elections A historic week in Irish politics as Simon Harris is appointed Ireland’s 16th Taoiseach and the youngest person to hold office at 37 years old. It marks the beginning of an interesting few weeks as parties prepare for the local and European elections, a litmus test for what is to come during the upcoming General Election. Opinion polls continue to fluctuate and the impact of Harris’ leadership on Fine Gael support is not yet known, however it is fair to say that the election is set to deliver significant change, as housing remains the predominant issue for the electorate. Given the political shift that Ireland is likely to witness over the next 12 months, now is a critical time for organisations to engage with relevant political stakeholders as parties look to their party manifestos and ultimately what will shape the next Programme for Government. Political parties and policy makers are eager to engage with organisations to ensure that their policy formulations are thorough, well-informed, and grounded in evidence. We are actively supporting our clients to engage with relevant stakeholders, as well helping them to anticipate and prepare for the possible changes brought about by a new government and what that might mean for businesses operating environments. If you would like to hear more, please get in touch. #PublicAffairs #PA #GovernmentRelations