Africa
Falling like dominoes: The demise of Senegalese democracy
by Neo Allert
Image Credit: U.S. State Department (Wikimedia Commons)
Once heralded as democracy’s last refuge in West Africa, Senegal has experienced a serious wave of democratic backsliding. With Macky Sall’s presidential term officially coming to an end in April, elections would have been due to be held in late February. In a surprise move, Sall called off these elections. Since then lawmakers passed a bill to extend president Sall’s time in office, postponing the elections to December. This move has been severely criticised by opposition leaders who, facing severe repression, have been prevented from casting their vote.
Sall’s repression of dissenting voices has, however, gone beyond just parliament, it has also reached: the towns and the streets, restricted access to mobile internet services, shut down the signal of the Walf TV channel and clamped down heavily on protests. With democracies falling like dominoes in neighbouring countries, Senegal, a country which has never experienced a coup, is likely to be the next domino to fall.
Asia
Indonesian Elections: Aesthetics vs Dynasty
by Mac Brennan
Image Credit: TribuneJatim.com
On 14 February, Indonesia will hold presidential and general elections. The country is the third largest democracy in the world, with 80 percent of the electorate being under 40, and a key example of generative AI being used in campaigning. Front-runner Prabowo Subianto has twice attempted to campaign as a law and order nationalist, focusing on his experience as a military commander. This time he campaigns as gemoy or a ‘cuddly grampa’, using AI-generated cartoonish images of himself and his running mate whilst also creating a popular dance on social media meant for re-sharing.
This campaign has been aimed at convincing younger voters to look past Subianto’s nationalist past and allegations of dynasticism. The outgoing president, Joko Widodo, is believed to remain an influence if Subianto wins. This is due to the fact that Subianto’s running mate is Widodo’s son. Additionally, Widodo’s brother-in-law, the chief justice of the Indonesian Court, recently altered the age requirement for an executive seat, a move that directly benefits Widodo’s son’s campaign.
Europe
EU backs down in farming feud
by Aidan O’Connor
Image Credit: solidnet (Flickr)
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Lyon, has confirmed plans to scrap an EU proposal to halve the usage of pesticides across the bloc. The move has been deemed a victory for farmers across the EU who have been protesting against various regulations being imposed on them from Brussels. Protests in France, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands over recent weeks have been a primary factor in the decision to backtrack with von der Lyon stating ‘our farmers deserve to be listened to’.
While the reversal still requires formal approval, the decision could be an indicator to farmers that more concessions could be gained to override the EU’s Green Deal – which aims to tackle climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, environmentalists have criticised the u-turn, with Dutch MEP Bas Eickhout calling for fresh alternatives to reduce pesticide usage.
Faced with continuing farmer protests and growing demands for more ambitious climate policies, the EU finds itself in a challenging position heading into a critical era for climate action.
North America
Carlson’s Putin interview goes live
by Owen Buchan
Image Credit: dondelord (Pixabay)
Former Fox host and controversial right-wing US commentator Tucker Carlson uploaded an interview described as highly anticipated with the Russian President Vladimir Putin. The interview was filmed on 6 February, and uploaded to Tucker’s X (formerly Twitter) account on 8 February.
Lasting over two hours, the main topic of conversation was the Russia-Ukraine conflict. At the time of writing, the interview has just under 90 million views. Some have criticised Tucker for failing to challenge Putin’s views and instead acting as a mouthpiece for him, in hopes the interview could rally right-wing support in the US and Europe against further aid to Ukraine.
This interview is the first time Putin has spoken to Western press since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Carlson has falsely claimed that Western media institutions have expressed a lack of interest in interviewing Putin. Despite this, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov has admitted that various Western media organisations other than Carlson have reached out to Putin.
Oceania
New Zealand renew calls for abducted pilot’s release
by Nadia Ronnoco
Image Credit: Apdency (Wikimedia Commons)
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has renewed calls for the release of abducted pilot Phillip Mehrtens, almost a year after his capture of rebels in the West Papua region of Indonesia. In a statement marking the anniversary of the abduction, Peters said ‘we strongly urge those holding Phillip to release him immediately and without harm. His continued detention serves the interests of no one’.
Mehrtens was abducted on 6 February last year by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-PB) while he was flying supplies to remote communities within the Nduga region. TPN-PB has previously stated that he will not be released until the independence of the region has been granted by Indonesia. A low-level conflict for independence has been ongoing between Indonesia and West Papuan rebels after Indonesia took control of the resource rich region following a controversial 1969 referendum. While New Zealand has been working closely with Indonesia to secure the release of Mehrtens, hopes one year on appear bleak.
South America
Bloody anti-PM protests plunge Haiti deeper into crisis
by Harvey Young
Image Credit: Digital Democracy (Flickr)
A wave of mass protests erupted in Haiti on 7 February calling for the resignation of the incumbent Prime Minister Ariel Henry following a failure to form a new government. These protests, which have swept across the country and have included opposition politicians and some government employees, have left the crisis-stricken Caribbean nation in a state of paralysis. Five people were killed in a clash with police on 7 February with the prime minister urging calm a day later.
The prime minister has been Haiti’s de facto leader since President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in 2021 but had struck a deal with political parties and civil society groups to form a new government by 7 February 2024. This, however, has not happened with both the legislature and presidency remaining vacant with Henry citing security conditions for the failure to hold elections.
Whilst Haiti has sadly been no stranger to severe crises and suffering throughout its troubled history, it has descended into a state of near lawlessness, widespread gang violence and extreme poverty over the past few years. It remains to be seen whether these protests will result in a new and stabilising government or plunge Haiti deeper into the abyss.
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