Idasa questions judgement of Director of Public prosecution in arms deal

African democracy institute Idasa is questioning the judgement of former national director of public prosecutions, Menzi Simelane, who decided not to investigate Fana Hlongwane, an adviser to then defence minister Joe Modise, who we recently learned took a R24m payback  from a SAAB subsidiary Saab in its bid to supply Gripen fighter jets to SA. [...]

African Charter campaign mounts pressure for successful elections

There are 17 presidential and legislative elections due to take place in Africa this year, and after the violent electoral standoff in Côte d’Ivoire the time has come for African leaders and institutions to take elections seriously.  Idasa’s campaign to promote the African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance needs ratification from 15 more [...]

Idasa responds to Swaziland crisis

As the protest campaign grows in Swaziland, and alarming reports grow of a security clampdown, African democracy institute Idasa calls on Swaziland to avoid further bloodshed and a repeat of the crises we have seen in conflict-ridden Libya and Ivory Coast – and urges parties in the mounting conflict in that country to aim towards [...]

Idasa asks where is Africa heading?

Idasa has issued a call to the African Union, the United Nations, development agencies and think tanks to engage in a very honest appraisal of the transition processes currently in practice on the continent. We remind our fellow African citizens that with a number of elections pending in Africa, and as our continent moves towards [...]

Statement from the spokesperson for the archdiocese of Abidjan

A statement from the spokesperson for the archdiocese of Abidjan has been published on BBC online talking about refugees in the cathedral. Read the full statement here.  All comments are welcomed here.

African citizens demand change, Idasa looks at implications for the continent

Now is the time for the African Union, regional African blocs and individual African leaders to stand beside Africa’s citizens in their call for greater democracy on our continent. African democracy institute Idasa sees in the waves of popular uprising in North Africa the opportunity for African leadership to support democratic consolidation; a consolidation that [...]