August 03, 2018
West Africa: Money in Politics - a Threat to African Democracies
"If you political analysts, do not help us, political actors, to find a solution to the problem posed by the need for more and more enormous financial resources to make politics,… Read more »
July 24, 2018
Mali: 2018 Presidential elections: A step towards the consolidation of peace in Mali?
A turning point that marked Mali’s return to a democracy following the 2012 crisis was the presidential elections held in July 28th, 2013. Five years later, the main… Read more »
June 02, 2018
Africa: Open Society Foundations Announce Summer 2018 New Executives Fund Recipients
NEW YORK—Eight newly appointed leaders of nonprofit organizations, in countries ranging from the United States to Senegal, have been awarded New Executives Fund grants to… Read more »
November 20, 2017
Liberia: 'No Real Winners in Corruption' - Children's Book Adapted for Stage
In a recently released video of Gbagba: The Stage Play, a diminutive, eight-year-old Liberian child actor proclaims, “In gbagba or corruption, there are never any real… Read more »
November 17, 2017
Senegal: Building Community Support for Drug Users Using Mobile Cinemas
Waves of dialogue in West Africa on drug policy reform with the ultimate goal of decriminalizing drug use and possession for personal use have been making headway. Progress is… Read more »
November 08, 2017
Liberia: Nation's Season of Hope
Jay peered at me from the burglary proofed window of Lango Lippaye Public School. You could feel his excitement. It was a non-school day because of the elections. The adults were… Read more »
August 16, 2016
West Africa: Rethinking Drug Control Policy
June 26th marked the International Day against Drug abuse and illicit trafficking. It gave us the opportunity to reevaluate Drug Policy in West Africa, where the current realities… Read more »
August 10, 2016
Guinea: Why Reconciliation Is Crucial
On June 29, 2016, the Provisional National Commission on Reconciliation (CPRN) co-chaired by Guinea's highest religious figures submitted its long awaited final report to President… Read more »
April 18, 2016
Liberia: Liberia's Land Authority Act - Deadlock Ends With Unanimous Support From Senate
On Wednesday April 13, 2016, Liberia's Senate gave its unanimous endorsement to the draft Bill to set up the Land Authority of Liberia (LAA). The Bill had been before the Senate… Read more »
March 03, 2016
West Africa: Benin 2016 - Bringing Salient Institutional Flaws to the Fore
Benin's Constitutional Court postponed the Presidential election scheduled for 28th February to 6th March 2016 due to the inability of the Liste Electorale Permanente… Read more »
February 10, 2016
West Africa: Niger Elections - Why We Must Pay Attention
General elections will be held in Niger on 21st February 2016. This is a significant moment for the country, which has faced years of unstable governments since gaining… Read more »
February 02, 2016
Sierra Leone: Abortion Debate Heats Up After President Acts on Bill
With high rates of infant and maternal mortality compounded by a high incidence of teenage pregnancy, it is hardly surprising that the abortion debate in Sierra Leone has recently… Read more »
February 01, 2016
West Africa: Appeals for Reform of Drug Policies
A recent news story cited Ghana's Deputy Superintendent of Police, David Selom Hukportie, as bemoaning the formidable challenges he faces trying to destroy marijuana farms across… Read more »
January 16, 2016
Nigeria: Civil Society - Staying True to Our Mission
Civil society groups have played a fundamental role in the development and promotion of democracy in Africa. In Nigeria their role in the fight against military dictatorship stands… Read more »
December 09, 2015
Liberia: #corruptionmustgo - Musicians Mobilize to Minimize Corruption in Liberia
As Liberia enters its second decade of peace, its music industry continues to gain popularity. Artists like Takun J have a national following and have leveraged this platform to… Read more »
September 08, 2015
West Africa: Term Limits in West Africa - Civil Society Organizations to Urge ECOWAS
The West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) seeks to push the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to take the step of adopting term limits at Community level. Read more »
July 09, 2015
West Africa: Fraternité Matin and Osiwa Executive Director Discuss the Foundation's Work in Cote d'Ivoire
Tell us about OSIWA. Its mission and vision; its strategic objectives and focus areas. Read more »
July 10, 2015
West Africa: The New Stage for Global Drug Policy Reform
West Africa has a growing and worrying drug problem. Yet much of global drug policy has focused on reducing drug supply in South American countries like Colombia, and the heavy use… Read more »
July 03, 2015
Nigeria: 2015 Presidential Elections in Nigeria - Did We Really Make It? or Have We Only Just Begun?
The much talked about 2015 Presidential elections in Nigeria has now come and gone. General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd), the candidate of the opposition All Progressive Peoples Congress… Read more »
Nigeria: Why the 2015 General Elections Reflect the Voice of the Ordinary Nigerian
The 2015 elections are now over. The ballot boxes have been put away, and the dust over the campaigning headquarters has now settled. Read more »
Nigeria: Nigeria's Ballot Revolution!
Tuesday March 31, 2015, at about 1 am, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room was looking less like a technical election-monitoring space and more like a mad house. Read more »
Sierra Leone: Protecting Women's Land Rights in Sierra Leone's Draft National Land Policy
Introduction Read more »
June 22, 2015
West Africa: Justice for Al-Bashir
For some, the flight of President Omar al-Bashir from a military airfield in South Africa on Monday morning was another blow to the prestige of the International Criminal Court,… Read more »
June 12, 2015
West Africa: Curbing Transfer Mispricing - a Regional Approach
Every year, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) loses billions of US dollars because some subsidiaries of multinational corporations based in the region pay less… Read more »
June 09, 2015
West Africa: Rethinking Economic Governance in South East Nigeria
Nigeria is going through a seismic change in its governance infrastructure and we are all a part of it. Today, it's up to us - individual citizens and affected communities alike -… Read more »