How can international actors achieve the balance between recognizing strides in economic performance and development while holding governments accountable for human rights abuses and regional interference? Judd Devermont is joined by Adotei Akwei (Amnesty International), Ida Sawyer (Human Rights Watch), and Michela Wrong (Author) to discuss how the Biden Administration, with its focus on democracy and human rights, should respond to these challenges. Guests also cover alleged crimes against humanity by Eritrean troops in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region and Paul Rusesabagina’s forced disappearance and arrest.  

Background Readings

Ethiopia: The Massacre in Axum – Amnesty International Report 
Ethiopia: Eritrean Forces Massacre Tigray Civilians – Human Rights Watch 
The Dark Side of Rwanda’s Rebirth – Mvemba Phezo Dizolele 
Do Not Disturb: The Story of a Political Murder and an African Regime Gone Bad – Michela Wrong

President Biden's upcoming Summit for Democracy is one of the administration's flagship efforts aiming to renew its commitment to democracy at home and abroad. What are the key themes of the Summit and how do we ensure that African voices are not treated as sideshows? Judd Devermont sits down with Frances Brown (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace), Moussa Kondo (Accountability Lab), and Thandekile Moyo (Writer) to share recommendations for impactful deliverables. Other topics include Chad's military takeover following the death of President Idriss Déby and ZANU-PF's problematic amendments to Zimbabwe's constitution. 

Background Readings: 

Who will defend and protect Zimbabwe’s human rights defenders? – Thandekile Moyo 
The Global Expansion of AI Surveillance – Steven Feldstein  
America Needs a Democracy Summit More Than Ever – Frances Z. Brown et. al.
Africa and the Biden Administration’s Summit for Democracy – Judd Devermont 

In several countries, gangs, militias, and self-defense forces have become part of the security landscape. What’s behind this trend and what are the consequences? Judd Devermont sits down with Comfort Ero (International Crisis Group), Leanne Erdberg Steadman (U.S. Institute of Peace), and David Africa (former South African intelligence officer) to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of “dirty deals” and the challenge of accountability involved in dealing with these groups. Guests also cover President Farmajo’s failed term extension bid in Somalia and the insurgency in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado region.

Background Readings

Double-edged Sword: Vigilantes in African Counter-insurgencies- International Crisis Group
A Savage Order: How the World’s Deadliest Countries Can Forge a Path to Security- Dr. Rachel Kleinfeld
From Self Defense to Vigilantism: A Typology Framework of Community-Based Armed Groups- Dr. Lauren Van Metre (Resolve Network)
Disengagement and Reconciliation in Conflict-Affected Settings- Leanne Erdberg Steadman

Disinformation operations in Africa are hidden in discretely coordinated social media campaigns. How can activists across the globe detect fake news and tackle these issues more coherently? In our 11th episode in partnership with African Arguments, Judd Devermont is joined by Elsie Eyakuze (The Mikocheni Report), Shelby Grossman (Stanford Internet Observatory), and Rose Jackson (Atlantic Council) to discuss the importance of people-to-people engagement in responding to disinformation. Guests also explore Covid-19 lockdowns in Nigeria and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu's deviation from her predecessor's policies.  

 
Background Readings: 

Ethiopian diaspora groups organize click-to-tweet Tigray campaigns amid information scarcity – Tessa Knight 
Prominent Ugandan news websites implicated in government-aligned social media campaign – Tessa Knight and Alyssa Kann 
The Politics of Order in Informal Markets: How the State Shapes Private Governance – Shelby Grossman 
Slanted Narratives, Social Media, and Foreign Influence in Libya – Shelby Grossman et. al.
Blurring the lines of media authenticity: Prigozhin-linked group funding Libyan broadcast media – Shelby Grossman et. al.
Atlantic Council Digital Forensic Research Lab Newsletter 

America spends more money on Halloween candy than on UN peacekeeping operations each year. What is the true value of these missions and how much in financial contributions are required to earn a seat at the table? Judd Devermont sits down with Paul-Simon Handy (Institute for Security Studies), Kate Almquist Knopf (Africa Center for Strategic Studies), and Chandrima Das (Better World Campaign) to discuss the state of peacekeeping in Africa. Guests also explore democracy and protests in Senegal and the UN’s decision to close its peacekeeping mission in Darfur.

Background Reading:

Walking a Tightrope: The Transition from UNAMID to UNITAMS in Sudan - Daniel Forti (International Peace Institute - IPI)
Five reasons why America needs to pay its peacekeeping bill - Hardin Lang and Victoria Holt
 

Investigative journalism in Africa is entering a golden age. What trends underpin new access to and the dissemination of hidden information? Judd Devermont is joined by journalists Micah Reddy (amaBhungane), Peter Murimi (BBC Africa Eye), and Khadija Sharife (OCCRP) to discuss the realities facing media houses today. Other topics include the recent explosions in Equatorial Guinea and attacks on the LGBTQ+ community in Ghana. 

Background Materials:

I am Samuel Film - Directed by Peter Murimi  
Congo-Brazzaville Strongman Buys Secret Weapons Haul from Azerbaijan - Khadija Sharife and Mark Anderson 
BBC Africa Eye: The Baby Stealers - Peter Murimi, Joel Gunter and Tom Watson

How does populism manifest itself in sub-Saharan Africa in comparison to other regions? As part of a special live episode with a class at the University of San Francisco, Judd Devermont is joined by Kathleen Klaus (University of San Francisco), Chiponda Chimbelu (Deutsche Welle), and Danielle Resnick (International Food Policy Research Institute) to discuss factors that enable populist leaders to gain political sway in Africa. Guests also unpack the strengths and weaknesses of Kenya’s Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and discuss Zambian President Edgar Lungu’s decision to run for a “third term,” as well as what it means for the democratic trajectory of the country.  

Background Readings:

Political Violence in Kenya: Land, Elections, and Claim-Making – Kathleen Klaus 

There’s a long, troubling history behind the Capitol attack – Kathleen Klaus and Aditia Malik 

Africa and the Biden Administration’s Summit for Democracy – Judd Devermont 

Populism in Africa, The Oxford Handbook of Populism – Danielle Resnick  

How do African media outlets portray politics, economics, and cultural life in their own countries and in the broader region? Aanu Adeoye (The Continent), Moky Makura (Africa No Filter), and Yinka Adegoke (Rest of World) join Judd Devermont for a lively discussion on how increased media coverage on Africa and a focus on human-interest stories can foster unity and drive continental potential. Guests also discuss the impact of Tanzanian President Magufuli’s previous denial of Covid-19, and Africa’s path to economic recovery over the next few years.  

Background Readings:

The country where Covid-19 doesn’t exist: Nothing to see here, says Tanzania’s president – The Continent
Unfinished Business: Magufuli’s Autocratic Rule in Tanzania – Marielle Harris  
Africa’s diversified economies are set to rebound quicker than its extractive giants – Yinka Adegoke
How African Media Covers Africa – Africa No Filter 

How do we go beyond rhetoric that rarely translates into concrete and strategic action? In our 10th episode in partnership with African Arguments, Judd Devermont is joined by Deborah Malac (former U.S. Ambassador to Uganda), Maria Burnett (CSIS), and Michael Mutyaba (African Arguments contributor) to discuss recommendations for foreign partners and donors in holding autocratic regimes accountable—beyond strongly-worded statements. Guests also delve into Uganda’s repressive elections and the deteriorating humanitarian conditions displacing millions in Ethiopia. 

Background Readings: 

Uganda: How donors can go beyond “strongly-worded statements” – Michael Mutyaba (African Arguments) 
Repression as Voters Weigh Museveni’s 34 Years – Maria Burnett 
The Battle of Mekelle and Its Implications for Ethiopia – Judd Devermont 

Central to the green revolution and technologies of the future, cobalt is found in some of the most conflict-stricken and unjust places on earth. What is the industry's current approach to responsible sourcing? Pamela Fierst-Walsh (U.S. Department of State), Mike Jobbins (Search for Common Ground), and Laurent Kasindi (Search for Common Ground) join Judd Devermont to highlight the benefits of a "do more good" over a "do no harm" approach to mineral mining. Guests also discuss recent attacks by the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) in the Central African Republic, as well as the upcoming Somali presidential elections.