Jeffrey Smith
@Smith_JeffreyT
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Founder: @VanguardAfrica, @ResistBureau | Author: @ForeignPolicy, @TIME, @PostOpinions, @JoDemocracy | Board: UConn Human Rights, @SoloSandengFoun | Views=mine
Joined June 2012
Mohamed Bazoum.Tundu Lissu.Kizza Besigye.Ahmed Tantawy.Rached Ghannouchi.Moussa Mara.Succes Masra.Victoire Ingabire. A growing number of African opposition leaders - and one president - are behind bars today. Some have never been charged with an actual crime. This is a contagion.
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"My imprisonment was meant to intimidate a generation of Venezuelans. [@TunduALissu's] possible death sentence is meant to frighten not only his party but every Tanzanian citizen who dreams of democracy. The world must not turn away." -@leopoldolopez .
dailymaverick.co.za
My imprisonment was meant to intimidate a generation of Venezuelans. Tundu Lissu’s possible death sentence is meant to frighten every Tanzanian citizen who dreams of democracy. But history shows that...
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RT @VanguardAfrica: #Uganda . "Kizza Besigye's months-long detention has shone a spotlight on President Yoweri Museveni's human rights reco….
reuters.com
Jailed Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye boycotted the start of his treason trial on Monday, accusing the presiding judge of bias, his attorney said.
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"For Washington, the Sahel's importance has long been tied to security concerns . But that understanding has too often translated into supporting repressive leaders, so long as they cooperate on counterterrorism." -@B_Kaes.
nytimes.com
The conviction of the transitional prime minister in Chad is emblematic of how democracy is eroding across the Sahel region of Northern Africa.
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#Tanzania . "Every other week, police or social media posts announce a missing person. Some are never found and others reappear with disturbing accounts of violence or torture – and some have been found dead.". @Lasteki @BBCAfrica.
bbc.com
Activist Edgar Mwakabela describes his ordeal after he says he was kidnapped and shot by suspected state agents.
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A surefire way to gin up support when your popularity is fading? Go after and target those who are already the most marginalized, vulnerable. This is straight from the despot's playbook and is not surprising in the least.
apnews.com
Burkina Faso’s parliament has passed a law banning homosexuality. Offenders will face two to five years in prison.
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RT @VanguardAfrica: We join the Platform for African Democrats in unwavering solidarity with @TunduALissu in #Tanzania, calling for his imm….
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RT @VanguardAfrica: #Malawi: "Transparency and fairness are key talking points ahead of the vote, given that the result of Malawi's 2019 pr….
bbc.com
Two political rivals go head-to-head once again in the hotly contested 16 September poll.
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RT @business: Security forces in Togo on Saturday blocked a protest by opposition parties and civil groups against the continued rule of Pr….
bloomberg.com
Security forces in Togo on Saturday blocked a protest by opposition parties and civil groups against the continued rule of President Faure Gnassingbé and his family, now in its 58th year.
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Shame that the media sometimes whitewashes tyranny -- in this case #Tanzania -- by noting the incumbent 'is being challenged by 16 other candidates,' as if this somehow makes it a credible election. It's anything but, with all main challengers sidelined.
apnews.com
The official campaign period has started for Tanzania's October general elections. Incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Thursday introduced her party's parliamentary candidates.
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RT @VanguardAfrica: #Cameroon's dictator Paul Biya has ruled the country longer than most Cameroonians have been alive. Oppression is easie….
vanguardafrica.com
Cameroon’s long-ruling dictator, Paul Biya, has governed the country longer than most Cameroonians have been alive. Why? One reason is that oppression is easier to implement in a country like...
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#Niger. "In search of palliatives Tiani has quietly relaunched policies developed by Bazoum. These include discreet dialogue with armed groups and more investment in schools. This doesn't cut across his posture of. stamping on local dissent." #FreeBazoum.
africa-confidential.com
After failing to repel determined jihadist attacks, the Sahel juntas crack down on internal dissent
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RT @VanguardAfrica: 🚨AFRICA WATCH🚨. #Tanzania opposition leader @TunduALissu is charged with treason for the 'crime' of campaigning for fai….
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#FreeBazoum . Join the global calls for freedom:
freebazoum.com
He was ousted two years after polls and had strong relations with the US and European countries. #MonitorUpdates
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Which African nation is next? . My top two guesses: Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania.
#Uganda is the fourth African nation committed to receiving US deportees after deals with Rwanda, South Sudan and Eswatini. The commonality: each of these countries are deeply authoritarian with leaders looking to deflect from horrid human rights records.
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#Uganda is the fourth African nation committed to receiving US deportees after deals with Rwanda, South Sudan and Eswatini. The commonality: each of these countries are deeply authoritarian with leaders looking to deflect from horrid human rights records.
cnn.com
Uganda’s decision to approve the Trump administration’s offer to take in migrants unwanted by the United States has sparked criticism in the East African nation that already houses the continent’s...
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RT @SamuelBaker_B: 1/7: Despot @PaulKagame says Rwanda’s history shows resilience & self-determination, yet the reality under his regime @R….
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RT @VanguardAfrica: #Tanzania . "This decision is not only shameful but it is raising more questions about the integrity, seriousness, prof….
reuters.com
Tanzania's electoral commission on Wednesday barred the presidential candidate of its second biggest opposition party from contesting polls in October, leaving President Samia Suluhu Hassan to face...
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RT @ReutersAfrica: Kenyan human rights activist Boniface Mwangi, who has played a prominent role in anti-government protests, said on Wedne….
reuters.com
Kenyan human rights activist Boniface Mwangi, who has played a prominent role in anti-government protests, said on Wednesday he plans to run for the presidency in the country's 2027 election.
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