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NL Burkina Faso: from hope in the region to epicentre of conflict
On 23 January, a coup takes place in Burkina Faso by the military group Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration (PMSR). The democratically elected president Roch Kabore is deposed; he is no longer considered capable of addressing the worsening security situation. The leader of the PMSR, Paul Henri-Sandaogo Damiba, appears on TV to announce that they will take over the country's administration from here.
Socio-political impacts of climate change visible in MENA
Although MENA is responsible for 3% of total global emissions since 1850, it is one of the regions where climate change will be felt most in the coming decades. Temperatures are expected to rise by 2 to 2.7 degrees between 2040 and 2059 - and up to 3.3 degrees in some regions. For the dry desert regions of MENA, this temperature rise could be dramatic if there are no major policy changes - both in MENA and among major polluters worldwide.
Disturbing reports of discrimination on Polish-Ukrainian border
On Sunday 20 March, a protest will take place in The Hague to draw attention to equal treatment for all those fleeing Ukraine because of the Russian invasion. Several disturbing reports of discrimination at the Ukrainian-Polish border, with segregation taking place between refugees, emerged over the past week.
Constitution Belarus amended after referendum, fear of further integration with Russia grows
A controversial amendment to the constitution was passed in a referendum in Belarus last Sunday. The amendments give President Lukashenko far-reaching powers to remain in power until 2035. Another clause that deletes Belarus as a neutral, non-nuclear power is also controversial. It heightens fears that Belarus will be further integrated into Russia.
Will sanctions deter Putin?
The world is watching Putin tensely as he announces Russian recognition of the republics of Luhansk and Donetsk. An orchestrated security meeting in Moscow and rancorous speech by the Russian president usher in a new low point between Russia, Ukraine and the West. Will Western sanctions be enough to deter Putin from further violations of Ukrainian sovereignty? - This article follows in English -
Romania: A greater role within NATO and rise of the far right
The Ukraine crisis also puts Romania in the spotlight as part of the NATO eastern front. The Romanian government is taking a diplomatic but firm stance. On the contrary, the same government is adrift domestically due to a power struggle within the coalition. A far-right party is taking advantage of this.
European Court: EU may cut Poland and Hungary subsidies for violation of principles
In a long-awaited ruling, the European Court of Justice has allowed the European Commission to cut billions of euros from member states that violate democratic and rule-of-law principles. The case focuses in particular on Poland and Hungary, which had challenged the conditionality of subsidies before the Court. The ruling takes place within a wider debate in Brussels on how to deal with various authoritarian powers that challenge the Union from both inside and outside.
Successful MENA Academy in Tunisia
Last month, after almost two years of inactivity, we were able to organise another physical MENA Academy. For four days, we trained young people from different countries in the Middle East and North Africa. These are young people chosen by their own parties as promising candidates and perhaps the future leaders of their parties or countries!
Retrospective Political Café Ethiopia
On 20 January, we organised an online political café on Ethiopia, in view of the recent escalation of the conflict (reference to Dorine's article). Our speakers were Lulessa Abadura from the Gurmuu Foundation; Habtom Yohannes, PhD candidate at Radboud University; Jan Abbink from Leiden University; and Weyni Tesfai, cultural anthropologist and historian in the field of Africa studies.
The war in Yemen
The war in Yemen goes on and on, after seven years of unrest. It all started during the Yemeni Revolution in 2011 and 2012, when the government of Ali Abdullah Saleh was overthrown. However, the historical roots of the conflict go much further, back to the eight-year civil war between republican and royalist forces that began in the September Revolution of 1962.
