Jeffrey Smith

I spoke to award-winning journalist and co-founder of @M28Investigates, @SamuelBaker_B, about events in #Rwanda including the rumors around Paul Kagame's health and a related crackdown on @VictoireUmuhoza and what's left of the political opposition. Watch: youtube.com/watch?v=bDqPhQ…

The level of fear in #Tanzania -- among activists, journalists, and political opposition -- is higher than I have ever experienced. This includes the pinnacle of The Bulldozer years. One friend said to me today: 'The regime has gone mad, even abducting family members of critics.'

#Cameroon "Everybody is feeling the pinch of mismanagement, embezzlement, non-development, low standards of living, and poverty brought by a regime that knows that it is unpopular ... to uproot a dictator is not a day's job." theguardian.com/world/2025/jul… @EromoEgbejule

#Niger

We join the Platform for African Democrats, and former president Ian Khama, to call on #Niger's junta to immediately and unconditionally release @mohamedbazoum, who, along with his wife, has been held hostage for two years. The time has come. #FreeBazoum pad.africa/blog/free-pres…

#Uganda "It is really scary that a person of this caliber is getting more and more power ... Many Ugandans fear talking about certain people. But when they see them drawn in a cartoon, it somehow brings them down a level." theguardian.com/world/2025/jul… @CarlosMureithi

My piece for @TheEconomist on Uganda's military intervention in eastern Congo. Kampala has an estimated 6,000 troops on the ground. With international pressure focused on Rwanda and the M23 rebels, the dubious role of Uganda has been overlooked. economist.com/middle-east-an…

more on this soon!

#Niger "[President] Bazoum's detention is arbitrary and a clear violation of the rule of law. ... the junta is suppressing due process and ignoring international legal standards." africanews.com/2025/07/24/hum… #FreeBazoum

Tanzania’s president came into office promising democratic reforms but instead has relied on tried-and-true repressive tools, write Dan Paget and Aikande Clement Kwayu. "Tanzania’s Autocratic Reform-Washing" muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/…

In #Togo, 'it is musicians, bloggers and activists who have tapped into popular anger and weariness with a regime that has been in power – under the leadership of Faure Gnassingbé or, before him – his father Éyadéma, for almost six decades.' #FreeTogo bbc.com/news/articles/…

Je vous invite à signer ✍️ cette pétition pour exiger la libération du président Bazoum injustement séquestré depuis 2 ans.

#Swaziland / #Eswatini "This is not diplomacy but human trafficking disguised as a deportation deal. It is an insult to all Emaswati who value peace, security, and the sanctity of our homeland." theguardian.com/world/2025/jul… @rachelmsavage @Saviorkakama

"#Niger's military junta demonstrates its contempt for the rule of law every day it detains former President Bazoum and his wife...His politically motivated detention and prosecution discredit any junta claims to a more democratic Niger." #FreeBazoum hrw.org/news/2025/07/2… @hrw

#Togo "Voter turnout was low, with most polling stations in the capital Lomé empty during the elections. This followed the repression of popular protests against Gnassingbé at the end of June." #FreeTogo africanews.com/2025/07/22/tog…

#Mozambique Charging opposition leaders and activists with 'inciting terrorism' is now routine across Africa. The examples are numerous. In doing so authorities seek to plass blame for protests, which erupt due to rigged elections and their own failures. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

July 26 is a somber occasion in #Niger. It'll be two years since democratically elected president @mohamedbazoum was unlawfully removed from office and detained by a military junta. He's been held hostage since that time. This week, we speak to experts and get updates.…

#Kenya "What began as targeted persecution of young protesters demanding accountability has metastasized into a full-scale assault on Kenya's democracy." aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/21…

#Niger "Locked away between four walls in a small room in the presidential palace in Niamey, Mohamed #Bazoum has not seen the light of day for two years." #FreeBazoum @yvesthreard @VanguardAfrica

Yesterday's arrest of activist @bonifacemwangi in #Kenya is deeply troubling. I recently spoke to @MarthaKarua for a wide-ranging conversation in which she labeled the country a 'rogue state' with arrests, abductions, disappearances and killings the norm. youtube.com/watch?v=g_KuRz…

#Niger "Locked away between four walls in a small room in the presidential palace in Niamey, Mohamed Bazoum has not seen the light of day for two years." #FreeBazoum lefigaro.fr/international/… @yvesthreard