Today, as the world commemorates World Press Freedom Day, we at Community Transformation Foundation Network (COTFONE) and Tournons La Page Uganda (TLP-Uganda) stand in solidarity with all journalists, media houses, and civil society actors who risk their safety to speak truth to power and defend the rights of vulnerable communities.

Since the change of power of control of institutions by the military led by Brigadier General Brice Clotaire OLIGUI NGUEMA, the new Gabonese authorities have announced their intention to fight corruption and improve governance. The event was greeted with scenes of popular jubilation, after 56 years of governance by the Bongo family.

The rejection of French politics in Africa runs deep, with the specter of Françafrique and enduring neocolonialism looming over the continent. In response to this reality, Tournons La Page, in partnership with the International Research Center (CERI) at Sciences Po, conducted a study to provide insights into this pressing question: What does the rejection of France in Africa signify? A total of 470 civil society actors were surveyed across six French-speaking African countries: Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Niger, and Chad. This distrust towards France and its policies was assessed using a range of indicators, including healthcare, education, security, anti-corruption efforts, and the defense of democracy.

All over the world, there is unanimous agreement that enforced disappearances are on the rise. Whether these acts target political opponents, journalists, human rights defenders, ordinary citizens or migrants, they constitute a serious violation of fundamental rights and a direct threat to the rule of law and democracy. The use of these practices, sometimes justified under the guise of combating insecurity or terrorism, is absolutely unacceptable.

Since the military junta took power in Guinea on September 5, 2021, led by Mamadi DOUMBOUYA, the country's political and social situation has been marked by a concerning stalemate. Civil society and the most representative political parties have been systematically excluded from any sincere and inclusive dialogue framework. A consultation framework established by the government was rejected by the Forces Vives de Guinée, which view the process as biased and unrepresentative. Additionally, an agreement between the military government and ECOWAS, setting the end of the transition for December 2024, was unilaterally concluded without consulting the main stakeholders.

Since April 2015, Burundi has been facing a major political crisis triggered by the controversial candidacy of the late President Pierre Nkurunziza for a third term, violating both the spirit and the letter of the Constitution and the Arusha Accord. This accord, the cornerstone of peace after a decade of civil war, is founded on the principles of human rights and transitional justice, laying the groundwork for lasting peace and national reconciliation.

On May 6, 2024, more than 8 million Chadian men and women were called to the polls for the first round of the presidential election. This report highlights, through specific examples, the numerous incidents of political violence and irregularities that marred the electoral process. These incidents were documented by Tournons La Page Chad (TLP-Chad) during their impartial and independent observation of the presidential election, carried out to verify that the process was democratic, genuine and representative of the will of the Chadian people. The report highlights serious problems, including the deaths of several dozen people, including one candidate, the exclusion of several candidates, problems updating the electoral roll, low participation by women, the impossibility of accessing results by polling station, and a severe deterioration in freedom of expression and of the press.

This study was written, at TLP’s request, by the African Network of Constitutional Lawyers (ANCL), a partner association based in South Africa, whose work focuses on the development of constitutionalism and democracy in African countries. It is the result of several months’ research and analysis by members of the ANCL, including judges, lawyers, academics, activists, NGOs, research institutes and academics.

Although the majority of Internet outages take place in Asia, the African continent is not far behind. For example, since the launch of Tournons La Page in 2014, of the 14 African countries where Tournons La Page operates, 13 have resorted to Internet blackouts. This generalization is all the more worrying in that very often, major repressions are organized during blackouts, hidden from the eyes of the international community.

This report is an analysis of all acts of reduction of civic space in the country since 2014, the year that marked the beginning of increased repression against civil society. Since then, a monitoring of arrests and a critical analysis of the legal and institutional framework have been carried out by members of TLP-Niger. Between the arrests of journalists and internet blackouts, freedom of expression, demonstration, association and privacy are no longer guaranteed.

This report is the result of a collaborative effort between Tournons La Page (TLP), Agir ensemble pour les droits humains and Tournons La Page Tchad (TLP-Tchad). Through its members, TLP collected information and images on human rights violations in the country since the 2021 presidential campaign.This work aims to shed light on the course of events and the conditions under which these abuses occurred.

France is at a turning point in its relations with African societies. A refoundation of relations between France and the African continent necessarily requires a political and military "withdrawal" of Paris, simply by accepting that France is a partner among others and that the history of Africa can also be written without France.

Togo and Gabon have only had one family in power... Yet they do not live in a monarchy! If many African countries suffer from the absence of alternation, it is not a question of culture, as dictators would have us believe. These are political systems organized around the monopolization of power and wealth. In this system, which benefits the leaders in place and their clientele, but also many states and foreign investors, the population is held hostage.

This report provides an overview of the pre-election situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It examines the issues and challenges of the current electoral process and proposes courses of action for the European Union (EU) and its member states. This report was enriched by data from interviews and questionnaires conducted with stakeholders in the current electoral process.

The year 2023 marks the return of a system of governance in which suits give way to fatigues at the head of states. After the events in Mali, Guinea, Chad and Burkina Faso, Niger on July 26 and Gabon on August 30 were also the scene of military coups d'état.

Thanks to its strong outreach, the opening ceremony of the second Tournons La Page (TLP) international General Assembly (GA) brought together over 120 members, partners and guests from a wide variety of backgrounds. After having been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and relocated just a few months before it was due to take place, this GA is considered to have been a success, in terms of meeting deadlines, logistics and content.

The year 2021 has been a year of great change for Tournons La Page. It was also a year of strong growth for the movement internationally, now fully independent. The gradual lifting of anti-COVID-19 restrictions has made it possible to resume meetings between members and to re-launch the dynamics of citizen mobilization. One of the great successes of 2021 has been to allow the development of expertise, documentation and advocacy of our members.

Tournons La Page, WADEMOS and AfrikaJom Center, three organizations committed to the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and good governance in West Africa, send you this letter in recognition of your esteemed role in serving your nations. Your actions are essential for the defence of constitutionalism, the entrenchment of democratic norms and respect for the fundamental rights of the peoples you are called to serve.

Wademos, Tournons La Page, Afrikajom Center, CDD West Africa, Transition Monitoring Group et plusieurs organisations de la société civile du Nigéria, appellent les chefs d’État et de la CEDEAO, à la veille de la 66ème Conférence des Chefs d’État, a plus de diligence dans la mise en oeuvre des réformes incluant la standardisation d’une limitation des mandats des chefs d’État et de Gouvernement.