A Grim Rebound: Coups in Sub-Saharan Africa Rise

Sudan was just weeks away from having its first civilian head of state since 1989 when the fledgling democracy was jolted by a military coup. This coup, the third in the nation's short 36-year history, is only one of four successful military coups that have occurred in sub-Saharan Africa in 2021, affecting over 90 million people across the region. Since 2019, the number of coups in sub-Saharan Africa, which had been declining since 2001, has doubled, relapsing back to the levels last seen in the 20th century.

Featured, GlobeAidan KatoDecember 30, 2021Sub-Saharan Africa, military coup, sudan, Mali, Guinea, Chad, Democracy, democratic backslidingComment

Military Turmoil in Myanmar: A Resurfaced Crisis

On February 1st, military tanks began rolling into the capital city of Myanmar, Naypyitaw, and two other large cities, Yangon and Mandalay, effectively blocking roads. In an early morning raid the same day, the military (known as Tatmadaw), detained the democrat civilian leader Suu Kyi and other senior officials of the government. The military had successfully carried out a coup d'etat and officially seized control of Myanmar.

Featured, GlobePriyal ThakralSeptember 28, 2021myanmar, military coup, burmese, myanmar election, election fraudComment

Voting is Sacred: The Fight for Democracy in Myanmar

In the Nov. 8, 2020 parliamentary election in Myanmar, the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 396 out of 476 seats. The Union Solidarity and Development party (USDP)—a proxy for the Burmese military—lost to the NLD by claiming only 33 seats. The USDP contested the results, appealing to the Union Election Commission. The commission dismissed the allegation of voter fraud due to a lack of evidence.