The Ghanaian elections: 2016 (John Mukum Mbaku, Brookings)

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2016/12/15/the-ghanaian-elections-2016/

The postponed DRC elections: What does the DRC’s situation look like now? (John Mukum Mbaku, Brookings)

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2016/11/22/the-postponed-drc-elections-what-does-the-drcs-situation-look-like-now/

African Union Commission elections and prospects for the future (John Mukum Mbaku, Brookings)

The African Union (AU) will hold its 27th Heads of State Assembly in Kigali from July 17-18, 2016, as part of its ongoing annual meetings, during which time it will elect individuals to lead the AU Commission for the next four years. Given the fierce battle for the chairperson position in 2012; and as the AU has increasingly been called upon to assume more responsibility for various issues that affect the continent—from the Ebola pandemic that ravaged West Africa in 2013-14 to civil wars in several countries, including Libya, Central African Republic, and South Sudan, both the AU Commission and its leadership have become very important and extremely prestigious actors. The upcoming elections are not symbolic: They are about choosing trusted and competent leaders to guide the continent in good times and bad.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/africa-in-focus/posts/2016/07/13-african-union-commission-elections-mbaku

The African Union: Which way forward? (John Mukum Mbaku, Brookings)

The 26th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Executive Council has just concluded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme, “2016: African Year of Human Rights with a particular focus on the Rights of Women.” Addressing the delegates, who included some of the continent’s most important political leaders and a collection of distinguished foreign dignitaries, the chair of the AU Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, reminded delegates of the organization’s vision as embodied in Agenda 2063. This pledge, a blueprint for the social, political, and economic transformation of the continent, emphasizes a bottom-up, inclusive, participatory, and people-driven approach to development. As envisioned by the agenda’s architects, Africa’s diverse peoples should spearhead the continent’s transformation and direct its development. Dr. Zuma also made note of 2016’s theme, which is the protection of human rights, with particular emphasis on the rights of women.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/africa-in-focus/posts/2016/02/11-african-union-mbaku