{"id":11215,"date":"2022-09-08T10:28:45","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T09:28:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.foretiafoundation.org\/event\/defending-democracy-and-freedom-in-sub-saharan-africa-strongmen-and-the-closing-civic-space-2\/"},"modified":"2022-09-08T10:28:45","modified_gmt":"2022-09-08T09:28:45","slug":"defending-democracy-and-freedom-in-sub-saharan-africa-strongmen-and-the-closing-civic-space-2","status":"publish","type":"mec-events","link":"https:\/\/www.foretiafoundation.org\/staging\/event\/defending-democracy-and-freedom-in-sub-saharan-africa-strongmen-and-the-closing-civic-space-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Defending Democracy and Freedom in Sub-Saharan Africa \u2013 Strongmen and the Closing Civic Space"},"content":{"rendered":"

Date & Time: April 22, 2021 at 10am EST (3pm West \/ Central Africa)Venue: Zoom Platform (Register Here)<\/p>\n

1. Overview
\nOver the last 15 years there has been a notable \u201cbacksliding\u201d on democracy worldwide. The recent publication by Freedom House this year revealed only eight (8) countries (includes several smaller countries) rated as \u201cfree\u201d and full democracies in Africa in 2021. This notable regression has clearly resulted in growing concerns about the future of democracy especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The backsliding on democratic norms, prior to COVID-19, was championed by out-of-touch elites in autocratic regimes using all means possible to perpetuate their rule.
\nAcross sub-Saharan Africa the last four years has seen accelerated declines in democratic gains, partly attributable to policies of the Trump administration. There have been constitutional changes to perpetuate incumbent rule (Cote D\u2019Ivoire and Guinea), a recent coup d\u2019\u00e9tat in Mali, worsening conflict in Cameroon, Ethiopia and Central African Republic amongst others. There are indications that Macky Sall of Senegal is following a familiar playbook to extend his rule. Many regimes have used the COVID-19 pandemic to further repress their citizens.
\nWithin this difficult terrain, what can be done to defend democracy and civil liberties in Africa? What can we anticipate from the Biden administration\u2019s proposed Summit on Democracy? What lessons have been learned on protecting civic space across the continent? These are some of the questions to discuss in this one-hour panel discussion.
\n2. Date and Venue
\nApril 22, 2021 at 10am EST (3pm West \/ Central Africa). Event will be held on ZOOM and streamed live (Register)
\n3. Panelists \/Speakers
\n.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-113{width:100% !important;margin-top : 10px;margin-bottom : 10px;}.fusion-builder-column-113 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-113{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-113 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-113{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-113 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-76{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}Jon Temin, Director \u2013 Africa Program, Freedom House
\n.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-114{width:33.333333333333% !important;margin-top : 10px;margin-bottom : 10px;}.fusion-builder-column-114 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 5.76%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 5.76%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-114{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-114 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-114{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-114 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}Ms Kemi Okenyodo
\nExecutive Director \u2013 Partners West Africa Nigeria
\n.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-115{width:33.333333333333% !important;margin-top : 10px;margin-bottom : 10px;}.fusion-builder-column-115 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 5.76%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 5.76%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-115{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-115 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-115{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-115 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}Mr. Francis Tazoacha
\nDirector of Peace and Security at Nkafu Policy Institute
\n.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-116{width:33.333333333333% !important;margin-top : 10px;margin-bottom : 10px;}.fusion-builder-column-116 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 5.76%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 5.76%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-116{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-116 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-116{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-116 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}Dr Denis Foretia (Moderator)
\nExecutive Chairman \u2013 Nkafu Policy Institute and Co-Chair \u2013 Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation
\n.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-117{width:33.333333333333% !important;margin-top : 10px;margin-bottom : 10px;}.fusion-builder-column-117 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 5.76%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 5.76%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-117{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-117 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-117{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-117 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-77{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}4. Participants
\nThe event will bring together public policy experts, policy makers at the national, continental and international levels, and leaders of civil society organizations. It will be open to the general public with a session for Q&A.
\n.fusion-button.button-46 {border-radius:0px;}REGISTER HERE.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-118{width:100% !important;margin-top : 10px;margin-bottom : 10px;}.fusion-builder-column-118 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-118{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-118 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-118{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-118 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-78{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Date & Time: April 22, 2021 at 10am EST (3pm […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[],"mec_category":[680,342,684,399],"mec_speaker":[],"class_list":["post-11215","mec-events","type-mec-events","status-publish","hentry","mec_category-event","mec_category-events","mec_category-governance-democracy","mec_category-webinar"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDefending Democracy and Freedom in Sub-Saharan Africa \u2013 Strongmen and the Closing Civic Space - Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation | Catalyzing Africa's Economic Transformation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foretiafoundation.org\/staging\/event\/defending-democracy-and-freedom-in-sub-saharan-africa-strongmen-and-the-closing-civic-space-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Defending Democracy and Freedom in Sub-Saharan Africa \u2013 Strongmen and the Closing Civic Space - 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