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NL #Unlockourcountry: Kenya
In Kenya, the first anniversary of the COVID-19 virus was "celebrated" with the entry of a new lockdown. President Uhuru Kenyatta announced a new lockdown on 26 March 2021 as the number of infections and deaths due to the virus was rising rapidly. This new lockdown generated huge reactions both offline and online.
Political paralysis in Tunisia
It is not the first time, and probably not the last. Tunisia is politically paralysed. The current stalemate between the president and the prime minister continues without an independent referee to give a decisive answer. Meanwhile, a fragmented and politicised parliament is causing confidence in politics to fall, young people in particular are turning away and voters are flocking to the flanks. What will it take to move the country forward again?
Romania: Sluggish start to new government
While corona vaccinations in Romania are running smoother than expected, ambitious plans by the government are lagging behind. A lot of European money needs to be spent in the coming budget period, but it is uncertain whether there is the administrative capacity to do so. And then Romania is also still struggling with corruption.
Genocide against the Uighurs: where are the sanctions?
Between one and three million Uighurs are currently detained in Chinese concentration camps in appalling conditions. They undergo torture that cannot bear the light of day. The millions of Uighurs outside the camps are also severely repressed and in constant danger. And it doesn't stop at China's borders, as the Uyghur diaspora is under constant surveillance beyond, including in the Netherlands. While this crime against humanity has been going on for years, hardly any countries have introduced sanctions against the Chinese government. Even the Netherlands has not taken any action so far.
Western Sahara victim of US-Morocco horse-trading
President Trump has made a deal with Morocco that will recognise Israel. In return, Morocco will get $3 billion in investment and US recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. This is a rare form of horse-trading that the EU cannot simply ignore.
The TLPF and the battle of Mekele
The Ethiopian army has just won the battle for Mekele, the capital of Ethiopia's rebellious Tigray region: The dust clouds are still descending. Wrenched from the hands of the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF), Mekele has been brought back under the control of the central Ethiopian state. 20 years after the end of the civil war, there is a new civil war. Here, is a brave fighting minority being enslaved by a brutally oppressive central state? What does the TPLF actually stand for? How did it get to this point?
'Communication & Events' intern: Annelou
I am Annelou Snippe, I am 22 years old and I am currently doing an internship at the FMS as an intern "Communication & Events." I graduated in the summer from Leiden University College The Hague, where I completed my bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences in World Politics, with a focus on international history. During my studies, I was very active for the European Youth Parliament, where I did PR and organised events for a year, among other things. After my studies, I didn't really know what direction I would like to take, except that I would like to do something with international politics.
'Democracy' intern: Meriem
My name is Meriem Hammami, I am 24 years old and a recent graduate. I have a bachelor's degree in International Communication, with a focus on the Middle East, from Zuyd University of Applied Sciences and a master's degree in Public Policy and Human Development from United Nations University and Maastricht University. Stimulated and inspired by the Arab Spring, which was in full swing after I finished high school, I chose my studies carefully.
"It's kind of a family feud", 3.5-year crisis in the GCC
Donald Trump, President of the United States (US), considers lifting the blockade on Qatar a priority in his last 70 days in power. This his national security adviser Robert O'Brien told the 2020 Global Security Forum. The blockade, imposed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Bahrain, has been called a crisis within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and has been going on for 3.5 years. The big question is: can the crisis really be resolved with US help? To answer this, we will first have to look at what exactly happened.
Belarus: need for hope after more than 100 days of protests and violence
It has been more than a hundred days since Belarus went to the polls. For more than a hundred days, people have been taking to the streets on a daily basis against the result announced at the end of that ballot: the victory of incumbent President Alexandr Lukashenko. His challenger, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, is now in exile. This month, she visited the Netherlands, where she continued to call for solidarity with the protesting Belarusian people.
