Politics and religion: How Uganda’s Museveni pulverised Christianity into a wild god for governance
In The Prince, Machiavelli prescribes what makes a ruler appear invincible: possessing prowess and being able to build own dynasty on own terms or agenda, free from influence from anyone including the clergy, academics, intellectuals, even own family, executive, legislature, judiciary or Constitution.
While Uganda’s Afro-fusion artist Bobi Wine symbolises Africa’s brittle democracy, youth interventions are recycling authoritarian politics
Africa has the world’s largest youth population. By 2030, 75 per cent of the African population will be under the age of 35. The number of young Africans aged 15-24 is projected to reach 500 million in 2080. While population dynamics vary across the continent, most sub-Saharan countries have a...
Armed men storm an Ecuador TV studio during a live broadcast as attacks in the country escalate
Ecuador’s attorney general’s office said the 13 people arrested will be charged with terrorism. It tweeted that it will present the charges in coming hours. Ecuadorian law establishes a penalty of up to 13 years in prison for anyone convicted of terrorism.
Macron sends out France’s youngest prime minister, Gabriel Attal, to fend off far right
France’s influence in Europe has grown under Macron, with Britain’s departure and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s retirement leaving way for more statist French ideas to influence EU policymaking.
Washington appeals court judges sceptical of Trump’s immunity claim in ballot subversion case
With the Republican state-by-state presidential nominating contest due to kick off next week, Trump used the hearing as an opportunity to claim he is the victim of political persecution. In a video posted to social media ahead of the hearing, Trump said he could prosecute Democratic President Joe Biden if he wins the November presidential election.
UN voices concern over rising post-election hate speech, ethnic tension and calls to arms in DRC
Election-related tensions are common in the DRC, which has a history of authoritarian rule and violent government overthrow. Some 250 different ethnic groups live in the vast country. It sits on considerable mineral wealth but little trickles down the population of around 100 million.
Republicans cast as flip-floppers on Trump sedition as they back him to be president
Trump’s persistent false claims that the election of 2020 was stolen — which has been rejected in at least 60 court cases, every state election certification and by the former president’s one-time attorney general — continue to animate the presidential race as he eyes a rematch with Biden.
US Supreme Court takes up cases on whether Trump is eligible for 2024 presidential ballots
Three of the nine Supreme Court justices were appointed by Trump, although they have repeatedly ruled against him in 2020 election-related lawsuits, as well as his efforts to keep documents related to January 6 and his tax returns from being turned over to congressional committees.
Tried and failed: Trump’s vows to deport millions are undercut by his White House record
Experts have highlighted it was no coincidence the deportation drive happened as farmers were looking for guest workers under the Bracero program that began in the 1940s, aimed at allowing Mexican farmworkers to enter the country and work in the US legally. The programme excluded women and children, driving some families to enter the country illegally to remain together.
Democratic Party strategists: Trump could very well defeat Biden even if the former president is in prison
Perhaps because of such apathy, some voters simply don’t believe Biden and Trump will end up on the general election ballot, despite strong evidence to the contrary. That’s an idea that conservative strategist Sarah Longwell, who founded the Republican Accountability Project, says she hears regularly during weekly focus groups with voters across the political spectrum.
