The year 2022 was quite eventful for civil society groups in Africa as the continent grappled with conflicts, soaring living costs, and the adverse impact of climate change among other humanitarian challenges.
As the year winds down, Development Diaries looks back at some of the top stories that drove the African civil society space in 2023.
Floods in Nigeria: What is the Way Out?
Nigeria suffered its worst case of flooding in a long time due to torrential rainfall. Millions of persons were affected, with over 600 persons losing their lives in what was described as the country’s worst flooding disaster in a decade.
Kuje Attack: CSOs Call for Reassuring Response
Some civil society actors and concerned Nigerians demanded a drastic response following the attack on the Kuje Correctional Centre (prisons) in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
The centre came under attack late Tuesday, 05 July, 2022, by terrorists, who used high explosives and guns, leading to the escape of over 800 of the 994 inmates, including 64 Boko Haram terrorists.
Osun Poll Observers Disclose Key Findings
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), and Yiaga Africa all said they observed open negotiations to buy and sell votes in the 2022 Osun State governorship election.
In different reports, the civil society organisations (CSOs) said the buying and selling of votes were well coordinated by polling agents in many polling units.
African Union Announces New Gender Signature
The African Union (AU) Commission announced ‘equality between men and women’ has its new gender signature.
The Chairperson of the commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, announced the signature as he restated his call for dignity and protection for all women and girls who have been forcibly displaced in Africa.
Ekweremadu: Activist Speaks on Trial, Expectation
As the trial of former Deputy Senate President in Nigeria, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice, continued, a human rights activist, Olukunle Adeogun, noted what the couple must do to prove their innocence.
The Ekweremadus, who were on 23 June, 2022, arrested in the United Kingdom by London Met Police, are facing charges of conspiring to traffick a person for organ harvesting in violation of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
According to the UK prosecutors, the couple has a daughter who has a kidney-related disease and has been on dialysis for quite some time.
The prosecutors believe that the plan was to use an organ from one David Nwamini on their daughter who needs a kidney transplant.
Algeria: CIHRS Condemns ‘Death Penalty’ Ruling
The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) condemned the ‘death sentencing’ of Algerian activist and whistleblower, Mohamed Benhalima, by a military tribunal on charges of terrorism.
Benhalima, a former military officer, exposed the corruption of high-ranking Algerian military officials on a YouTube channel and participated in the Hirak protests against Algerian authorities in 2019.
According to the Algerian authorities, Benhalima joined a terrorist group to compromise the security and integrity of the country, spreading false information, demoralising the army and harming security.
Democracy Day and Broken Promises
The Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani, said President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to provide Nigerians with the gains of democracy.
Speaking on the occasion of the June 12 Democracy Day in Nigeria, Rafsanjani insisted that Buhari has failed in his fundamental campaign promises to Nigerians.
The Nigerian leader had vowed, ahead of the 2015 presidential election, to tackle insecurity, corruption and economic challenges.
Paradigm Initiative Makes Digital Rights Calls
Paradigm Initiative called for a holistic commitment and collaboration to deepen digital inclusion and protect human rights online in Africa.
The nonprofit also urged governments in Africa to take steps to understand the cross-cutting issues that lead to abuse, disabling environment and poor policies in the digital ecosystem.
The calls were made in the organisation’s Londa State of Digital Rights and Inclusion in Africa report, in which it noted that African governments have demonstrated a lack of urgency in implementing laws or policies related to digitisation.
RSF Reports Threats to Press Freedom
Nigeria remains one of West Africa’s most dangerous and difficult countries for journalists, according to the 2022 World Press Freedom Index report by Reporters without Borders (RSF).
Africa’s most populous country is ranked 129th out of 180 countries in RSF’s latest press freedom index. Nigeria ranked 120th in 2021.
According to the ranking, journalists in the country are often watched, attacked, arbitrarily arrested and even killed.
Ghana: WACSI Examines Civil Society Contributions
A study by the West African Civil Society Institute (WASCI) revealed great contributions of civil society organisations (CSOs) to Ghana’s development over the years.
The study, titled Civil Society Organisations’ Contributions to National Development in Ghana, noted that CSOs have played unique roles in consolidating democratic governance, policy advocacy and influencing as well as poverty reduction and service delivery in the West African nation.
Minister Gets Civil Society Response
Four non-governmental organisations (NGOs) dismissed an allegation by Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, that some NGOs were working to destabilise the country.
Mohammed, who made the allegation when he featured on ‘Radio Link’ – a phone-in programme of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) – in February 2022, said Nigerians should be circumspect about the activities of some NGOs.
AU Condemns Violent Treatment of African Migrants
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Moussa Faki Mahamat, called for an impartial and accelerated investigation into the death of more than 20 African migrants attempting to cross the fence between Morocco and Spain.
The AU chief said he was ‘shocked’ at the violent and ‘degrading’ treatment melted out to African migrants within the continent.
Six African Countries Listed for mRNA Vaccine Hub
The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia as the first six countries that will receive the technology needed to produce mRNA Covid-19 vaccines in Africa.
WHO’s global mRNA technology transfer hub was established in 2021 to support manufacturers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to produce their own Covid-19 vaccines and protect the public health of their populations.
The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) and other CSOs called on the federal, state, and local governments in Nigeria to take the necessary steps to identify and prevent threats to children’s rights.
Hanifa was kidnapped by the proprietor of her school, Abdulmalik Mohammed Tanko, in December 2021 to demand a ransom of about N6million ($14,600).
According to the police, the 34-year-old Tanko later killed Hanifa after realising she had recognised him.
How ‘Fake News’ Impacts Ivory Coast – Report
Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) West Africa reported that misinformation posed a considerable threat to political stability in Ivory Coast.
The think tank, in a report titled Ivory Coast’s Fake News Ecosystem: An Overview, noted that misinformation predominantly revolves around political tensions and pre-existing social divisions.
Nigerian Youths and the Rise in ‘Japa’
The ‘Japa’ series addressed the reasons people are emigrating, the impact of this trend on Nigeria’s economy, and what Nigerians in search of greener pastures should know before leaving the country.
2023 Elections: CSOs Set Basic Education Agenda
As campaigns for Nigeria’s 2023 2023 elections heat up, a coalition of over 100 civil society organisations (CSOs) and development partners called on citizens to engage political candidates on their plans for basic education.
Aisha Buhari Slammed over Arrest of Twitter User
Wife of Nigeria’s president, Aisha Buhari, came under criticism for allegedly ordering the arrest and detention of Aminu Muhammad over an alleged defamatory social media post.
The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP27, held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, was dubbed the ‘Africa COP’.
‘Agberos’: Nightmare of Lagos Drivers, Commuters
The strike by commercial bus drivers in Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, left schoolchildren stranded and unable to meet up with their school time.
