Rift Valley Institute

On 15 June 2021, the Rift Valley Forum in conjunction with The Elephant and the Heinrich Boll Foundation hosted a webinar to explore the prospects for holding successful elections in Ethiopia and what success would look like. The virtual forum focused on the impact of the ongoing conflict and violence; online activism and the media’s role; the participation of women; and what this election means for the longer-term democratization process in Ethiopia. Moderator Muriithi Mutiga - Horn of Africa Project Director, International Crisis Group Panelists Abdeta Beyene- Executive Director, Centre for Dialogue, Research and Cooperation Dr Adem Abebe- Programme Officer, International IDEA Tsedale Lemma- Founder, Addis Standard Magazine

On 15 June 2021, the Rift Valley Forum in conjunction with The Elephant and the Heinrich Boll Foundation hosted a webinar to explore the prospects for holding successful elections in Ethiopia and what success would look like. The virtual forum focused on the impact of the ongoing conflict and violence; online activism and the media’s role; the participation of women; and what this election means for the longer-term democratization process in Ethiopia. Moderator Muriithi Mutiga - Horn of Africa Project Director, International Crisis Group Panelists Abdeta Beyene- Executive Director, Centre for Dialogue, Research and Cooperation Dr Adem Abebe- Programme Officer, International IDEA Tsedale Lemma- Founder, Addis Standard Magazine

On 30 March 2021, the Rift Valley Forum, in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation and The Elephant, brought together experts from the region to discuss lessons from the 2020 elections in Uganda and Tanzania and prospects for successful elections in Somalia and Ethiopia in 2021. The discussion highlighted how these countries tend to mirror each other in numerous ways, with cyclical and an often slow pace of reforms in electoral justice as a predominant issue. Moderator Patrick Gathara Journalist, The Elephant Discussants Fatma Karume Former President, Tanganyika Law Society Omar Mahmood Senior Analyst, Somalia, International Crisis Group Adem Abebe Programme Officer, Elections and Constitutional Governance, Ethiopia and Africa, International IDEA Kalundi Serumanga Journalist, Filmmaker and Cultural Activist

On 30 March 2021, the Rift Valley Forum, in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation and The Elephant, brought together experts from the region to discuss lessons from the 2020 elections in Uganda and Tanzania and prospects for successful elections in Somalia and Ethiopia in 2021. The discussion highlighted how these countries tend to mirror each other in numerous ways, with cyclical and an often slow pace of reforms in electoral justice as a predominant issue. Moderator Patrick Gathara Journalist, The Elephant Discussants Fatma Karume Former President, Tanganyika Law Society Omar Mahmood Senior Analyst, Somalia, International Crisis Group Adem Abebe Programme Officer, Elections and Constitutional Governance, Ethiopia and Africa, International IDEA Kalundi Serumanga Journalist, Filmmaker and Cultural Activist

On 30 March 2021, the Rift Valley Forum, in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation and The Elephant, brought together experts from the region to discuss lessons from the 2020 elections in Uganda and Tanzania and prospects for successful elections in Somalia and Ethiopia in 2021. The discussion highlighted how these countries tend to mirror each other in numerous ways, with cyclical and an often slow pace of reforms in electoral justice as a predominant issue. Moderator Patrick Gathara Journalist, The Elephant Discussants Fatma Karume Former President, Tanganyika Law Society Omar Mahmood Senior Analyst, Somalia, International Crisis Group Adem Abebe Programme Officer, Elections and Constitutional Governance, Ethiopia and Africa, International IDEA Kalundi Serumanga Journalist, Filmmaker and Cultural Activist

RVI's Magnus Taylor speaks with RVI researchers, Joseph Diing Majok and Nicki Kindersley, about their latest report, 'Breaking Out of the Borderlands: Understanding migrant pathways from Northern Bahr el-Ghazal, South Sudan'. The report takes the phenomena of the monetization of land, life and work in the borderland and looks at the consequences of this system for the young people who live in this region, arguing that the decision to leave South Sudan on long-distance migrant pathways can only be understood within the context of this militarized borderland economy. The young people who do decide to leave rely on mutual support and networks of information and care to survive. Due to distance and financial stress, these systems are now increasingly under strain.

On 17 September 2020, Somali leaders agreed on an indirect election model to be used for the country's upcoming elections, similar to the process used in 2016. Parliamentary elections were due to be completed by 28 December 2020, and presidential elections on 8 February 2021, but the consensus over the electoral process had begun to fray. A number of issues remain unresolved, which could further delay or delegitimize the electoral process. These include the composition of election management bodies, voting for seats allocated to Somaliland and election procedures in Jubbaland. On 17 December 2020, the Rift Valley Forum, in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation, hosted an online event to explore these issues. The forum was moderated by Peter Chonka, lecturer at Kings College. Mahad Wasuge discussed the proposed electoral model and the changes from the 2016 model. Dr. Hodan spoke about women's participation in dialogues leading to the ‘Mogadishu Model’ and the space for women in electoral bodies and institutions, notably the challenge of financing female candidates in Somalia.

In response to recent events in Ethiopia, notably the declining space for civil society and humanitarian actors to operate and limited media coverage of the Ethiopia conflict, on 1 December 2020, the Rift Valley Forum hosted a panel discussion to explore the role of regional bodies and civil society in managing and mitigating conflict. The Forum was moderated by Rift Valley Forum Manager, Pauline Skaper. The panel of discussants included Rashid Abdi, Horn of Africa Political Analyst, Rita Mazzocchi, Horn of Africa Civil Society Forum, Peter Kamalingin, Uganda Country Director at Oxfam, and Kibreab Abera Lomencho, lawyer and activist.

On 28 October 2020, the Rift Valley Forum, in partnership with the Heinrich Boll Foundation, held the third forum in the Elections Series on the 2021 elections in Uganda and the prospects for political change in the country. The forum included a broader discussion on the role of youth and the need for an inter-generational dialogue given Uganda's high youth population; succession plans and what will follow Museveni's tenure; and how women's political participation can be reimagined and elevated. The forum was moderated by Irene Ikomu, a lawyer and political analyst. Discussants included Irene Ovonji-Odida, lawyer and women’s rights activist, Raymond Mujuni, investigative journalist, Johncation Muhindo, founder of Creations Forum Afrika and Dr. Daniel Ruhuweza, lecturer at Makerere University.

On 30 September 2020, the Rift Valley Forum, in partnership with Heinrich Boll Foundation, hosted the second forum in the Elections Series on the 2020 elections in Tanzania. The forum examined the Tanzania experience under President Magufuli, leader of Chama Cha Mapinduzi, who was elected in 2015. Among the issues discussed was the repression and harassment faced by opposition parties, the media and civil society organizations. The discussion also explored the situation in the semi-autonomous island state of Zanzibar, where the polls were predicted to be highly contested, with a history of election-related violence. The webinar was moderated by Oryem Nyeko from Human Rights Watch. Jenerali Ulimwengu of The East African and Fulgence Massawe of the Human Rights Centre in Tanzania were the key discussants, drawing from their experiences in journalism and human rights.

On 30 September 2020, the Rift Valley Forum, in partnership with Heinrich Boll Foundation, hosted the second forum in the Elections Series on the 2020 elections in Tanzania. The forum examined the Tanzania experience under President Magufuli, leader of Chama Cha Mapinduzi, who was elected in 2015. Among the issues discussed was the repression and harassment faced by opposition parties, the media and civil society organizations. The discussion also explored the situation in the semi-autonomous island state of Zanzibar, where the polls were predicted to be highly contested, with a history of election-related violence. The webinar was moderated by Oryem Nyeko from Human Rights Watch. Jenerali Ulimwengu of The East African and Fulgence Massawe of the Human Rights Centre in Tanzania were the key discussants, drawing from their experiences in journalism and human rights.

On 16 September 2020, the Rift Valley Forum, in partnership with Heinrich Boll Foundation, hosted on online forum to explore the electoral atmosphere in the East and Horn of Africa region. The forum provided a critical space for the examination of contentious issues around elections scheduled for 2020 and 2021. The issues discussed included security, the role of the media, participation of women and the unprecedented challenges that COVID-19 poses for elections. This forum was moderated by Rift Valley Forum Manager, Pauline Skaper, and drew perspectives from renowned experts. Mutriithi Mutiga (Horn of Africa Program Director, ICG) discussed the upcoming elections in Ethiopia and Somalia and the potential impacts on the wider region. Although several countries in the Horn were preparing for elections, Muriithi highlighted that in Ethiopia and Somalia, traditional elections would not necessarily be held but rather there would be a kind of political settlement to ensure stability. In the context of a high youth population in the region and increased access to social media and technology, Nanjala Nyabola discussed how these factors would affect future elections, especially in light of governments' realization of the power of social media and, in turn, the increasing policing of this space. Political commentator, Patrick Gathara, explored the role of mainstream traditional media in the lead-up to elections, and the way in which voices are amplified or suppressed. Dr. Awino Okech, SOAS, discussed the value of protests, highlighting the importance of protests as a means of democratic communication with government and in particular, the role of women in organizing.

On 16 September 2020, the Rift Valley Forum, in partnership with Heinrich Boll Foundation, hosted on online forum to explore the electoral atmosphere in the East and Horn of Africa region. The forum provided a critical space for the examination of contentious issues around elections scheduled for 2020 and 2021. The issues discussed included security, the role of the media, participation of women and the unprecedented challenges that COVID-19 poses for elections. This forum was moderated by Rift Valley Forum Manager, Pauline Skaper, and drew perspectives from renowned experts. Mutriithi Mutiga (Horn of Africa Program Director, ICG) discussed the upcoming elections in Ethiopia and Somalia and the potential impacts on the wider region. Although several countries in the Horn were preparing for elections, Muriithi highlighted that in Ethiopia and Somalia, traditional elections would not necessarily be held but rather there would be a kind of political settlement to ensure stability. In the context of a high youth population in the region and increased access to social media and technology, Nanjala Nyabola discussed how these factors would affect future elections, especially in light of governments' realization of the power of social media and, in turn, the increasing policing of this space. Political commentator, Patrick Gathara, explored the role of mainstream traditional media in the lead-up to elections, and the way in which voices are amplified or suppressed. Dr. Awino Okech, SOAS, discussed the value of protests, highlighting the importance of protests as a means of democratic communication with government and in particular, the role of women in organizing.

In the second conversation with researchers from the Displaced Tastes project, Magnus Taylor—RVI’s Publications Manager—talks to Luga Aquila about his work on the cultural and economic significance of cassava for the Pujulu people of Central Equatoria, South Sudan. In particular, Luga explains the significance of Yoyoji-yojaja, a particular form of cassava cultivated by young men as a means to develop bride-wealth, which enables them to get married.

In this short conversation with RVI researcher Elizabeth Nyibol, Magnus Taylor—RVI’s Publications Manager—discusses the life of Elizabeth’s aunt, Mary Ajok, who is the main subject of a paper written by Nyibol in 2020. Mary’s life illustrates the extraordinary lengths that South Sudanese women have gone to in order to preserve their culture of seed cultivation, especially in times of conflict and displacement.