About: bad governance

Eritrea: an open-air prison, EU indifferent

Despite the dire situation on the ground in Eritrea, EU countries and the European Union as a whole look the other way. Benoit Lannoo explains why

Thousands in Montenegro rally against President Djukanovic

Thousands protested in Montenegro’s capital Podgorica on Saturday (2 February), the fourth such rally in as many weeks, demanding that President Milo Djukanović and his government resign over alleged corruption, cronyism and abuse of office.

Why do foreign investors leave Bulgaria as if it were the Titanic?

Despite being one of the most beautiful countries in the European Union, despite having talented and educated people, despite a favourable tax environment, Bulgaria is likely to stay as the poorest in the EU, and to continue losing its population, writes Blaga Thavard.

World reaction cautious to disputed DR Congo vote result

Foreign leaders reacted cautiously to the outcome of DR Congo's presidential election Thursday (10 January), with many choosing not to congratulate the man declared winner and appealing for disputes to be settled peacefully.

No EU ambassadors attend Maduro’s second term inauguration

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Thursday (10 January) begins a new term that critics dismiss as illegitimate, with the economy in free fall and the country more isolated than ever. The 56-year-old leader will be sworn in at 1400 GMT by the...

Pressure mounts on DR Congo over election outcome

Public and diplomatic pressure mounted Monday (8 January) on the Democratic Republic of Congo to announce the outcome of 30 December elections to replace long-term leader Joseph Kabila.

DR Congo to vote in end-of-an-era poll

Democratic Republic of Congo goes to the polls this week in elections which could see the country emerge from 17 years of conflict-ridden rule under controversial President Joseph Kabila.

Campaigning for critical election opens in crisis-wracked DR Congo

After two years of setbacks, broken promises and delays, the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday (21 November) effectively opened the starting gates for a crucial election that could alleviate -- or perhaps worsen -- the decades-long crisis gripping the vast central African nation.

Spain PM Sánchez calls for Venezuelan migrant quotas

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Thursday (30 August) that Latin America should adopt a "quota system" to better manage the Venezuelan migrant crisis.

Calls for justice after Bosnian reporter brutally beaten

Bosnian journalists on Monday (27 August) demanded justice after a reporter said he was severely beaten by unknown attackers after covering politically-sensitive protests. The US and European Union also condemned the assault on Vladimir Kovacevic, a journalist who works for...

Emmerson Mnangagwa sworn in as president of Zimbabwe

Emmerson Mnangagwa was officially sworn in as president of Zimbabwe on Sunday (26 August) after winning a bitterly-contested election which was the country's first since the ousting of strongman Robert Mugabe.

Belgium introduces security check fee for EU journalists

Belgium has introduced an unprecedented fee of €50 per semester for the security check of journalists attending EU summits. Moreover, the fee discriminates against journalists permanently residing in Belgium since those from abroad don’t need to pay the fee.

EU and Ukraine in tug of war over Naftogaz unbundling

The European Commission has repeated its insistence on breaking up the Ukrainian national gas and oil monopoly Naftogaz, separating transmission from production and supply, which the country had agreed to as a condition for receiving massive Western financing.

US, EU warn against political meddling in Bosnia graft cases

The United States and the European Union yesterday (21 February) warned Bosnia it needed to better protect the judiciary in corruption cases from political pressure, which had resulted in few high-level graft cases being processed in the Balkan country.

EU concerned over rights abuses in Equatorial Guinea

The European Union has criticised "a sharp decline" in human rights in Equatorial Guinea where an opposition figure died in custody and over 130 people have been detained since elections last year.

Deadly ethnic violence erupts in DR Congo’s Ituri

More than 30 people have been killed and hundreds of homes torched in an explosion of ethnic violence in a DR Congo province where the EU launched a landmark peacekeeping mission, multiple sources told AFP yesterday (5 February).

Deadly quake on Ischia exposes inaction on Italy’s illegal homes

A small but deadly earthquake on the Italian holiday island of Ischia exposed a deep political fault line yesterday (22 August) over the country's proliferation of unsafe, illegal housing.

Moldova banking scandal fuels biggest protest ever

Tens of thousands of Moldovans rallied yesterday (6 September) in the heart of the capital Chisinau in the biggest street protests in memory, demanding the resignation of the president and early elections over a $1 billion bank fraud that has hit living standards.

Ukraine anticipates default-saving debt deal

Ukraine is expecting the announcement today (21 August) of a crucial debt restructuring agreement that could save the pro-Western, but strife-torn country, from a devastating default.

Burkina Faso falls prey to anarchy

Burkina Faso's military dissolved parliament and announced a transitional government on Thursday (30 October), after violent protests against President Blaise Compaoré, but it was not immediately clear who was in charge.