"Many observers regard the upcoming elections in Tanzania and Uganda as formalities, rather than fair contests. Tanzania's opposition party Chadema has been banned from competing, its leader Tundu Lissu is in detention facing treason charges, and pro-democracy activists from Kenya claimed to have been abducted and tortured. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is seeking to extend his four-decade rule, and prominent opposition figures like Kizza Besigye and Bobi Wine have warned of increased oppression."
""In the context of democratization overall, one of the trends that we've picked up in East Africa is suppression of political opposition, and the targeting of political parties and leaders who are trying to upset the status quo," said Seema Shah, head of the Democracy Assessment Unit at International IDEA, a Sweden-based intergovernmental organization that advocates for democracy worldwide. Kenya too has experienced a crackdown on youth protests and politically motivated abductions. President William Ruto's regime has faced criticism for its heavy-handed approach."
In early 2025 the United States announced wide-ranging aid cuts that predominantly affected African nations, reducing Western funding for multilateral organizations and election observation. Many African democracies already face significant challenges to political competition and governance. Upcoming elections in Tanzania and Uganda are widely seen as formalities rather than fair contests, with Tanzania's Chadema banned, leader Tundu Lissu detained on treason charges, and reports of abductions and torture of pro-democracy activists. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni seeks to extend four decades in power while opposition figures warn of growing oppression. Kenya has experienced crackdowns on youth protests and politically motivated abductions, and critics accuse President William Ruto's government of heavy-handed tactics. Observers note a regional trend of suppressing opposition and targeting parties that threaten entrenched rule.
Read at www.dw.com
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