Will the Courts Save American Foreign Aid?

 The New York Times published on 3 November 2025 an article titled "The Monthslong Legal Battle to Save Foreign Aid" by Zach Montague.

During the past 9 months, the Trump administration dismantled the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and continues efforts to end most foreign aid.  The courts are the final obstacle to this effort as the US Congress remains AWOL.  The courts have not yet settled the core issues at stake although USAID no longer exists as an organization. 

Ethiopia: Seeking Unity in Tigray Region

 Ethiopia Insight published on 11 October 2025 a commentary titled "'National Unity for Survival': From Words to Action" by Abrar Fitwi, Saint Mary's College in Indiana.  

The author argues that Tigrayans can achieve unity only if they pursue a path that includes a reformed political program, credible leadership, a non-partisan army, and independent judiciary, media, and other institutions.  

Ethiopia Insight published on 30 October 2025 a commentary titled "A Rejoinder to Abrar Fitwi's 'National Unity for Survival'" by Ermias Amare, an Ethiopian-American architect in New Jersey.  

The author concludes that the "TPLF is too deformed to be reformed."

Empowering Ethiopia's Judiciary

 Ethiopia Insight published on 5 June 2025 a commentary titled "Empowering Ethiopia's Judiciary" by Nagessa Dube, a lawyer in Seattle, Washington.

One of the most glaring weaknesses in Ethiopia's system of governance is the lack of an empowered, independent judiciary.  Judges must be given the authority to strike down unconstitutional laws.

Somalia: Rule of Law and Independent Judiciary

 The Heritage Institute for Policy Studies published in January 2025 a study titled "Rule of Law and Independent Judiciary in Somalia" by Bashir M. Sheikh-Ali.  

Somalia's judiciary has historically been weak and politically influenced, limiting its ability to uphold the rule of law.  Somalia's Provisional Constitution does not resolve this problem.

The author advocates for the creation of strong legal frameworks and institutions, emphasizing that Somalia's cultural commitment to justice, if properly harnessed, can ignite a transformative legal renaissance in the country.  

UN Human Rights Report on South Sudan

 The UN Human Rights Council published on 29 February 2024 an unedited version of its "Report of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan." 

The report details a range of human rights violations, abuses, and related crimes, including systematic political repression and economic predation by political elites.  Women continue to endure pervasive discrimination, inequality, sexual violence, and sexual slavery.  Children suffer egregious violations, arising from the ongoing insurgency and resurgent subnational violence, fueled by local and national elites.

Ethiopia: Arrest of Journalists

 Ethiopia Insight published on 11 December 2022 a commentary titled "Unlawful Detention of Journalists in Ethiopia Continues Despite Amended Laws" by Zelalem Shiferaw Woldemichael, Melbourne Law School.  

The author argues that despite Ethiopian enaction of the New Media Law, which forbids depriving journalists of their liberty at the pre-trial and trial stages, there is an increase in such practices.  This reflects the failure of the judiciary to discharge its constitutional mandate.

Need for Banking Sector Reform in Sudan

 The Sentry published in October 2021 a paper titled "Sudan Banking Sector Reforms and Asset Recovery" by Oliver Windridge.

The author underscored the urgency of banking sector reform and the rooting out of corrupt actors in Sudan.  The banking sector needs to demonstrate greater transparency, enforce and comply with Sudan's existing anti-money laundering laws and policies, and improve banking supervision policies and practices.  

Ethiopia Needs Strong Institutions

 Ethiopia Insight posted on 15 September 2020 a commentary titled "For Prosperity, Ethiopia Needs Institutional Not Individual Strength" by Fikremariam Molla Gedefaw, University of Toronto.

The author argues that now more than ever, Ethiopia needs strong institutions such as parliament, independent judiciary, and the media.  

Ethiopia's Difficult Transition to Democracy

Ethiopia Insight posted on 2 December 2019 a commentary titled "Six Causes of Transitional Trauma" by Ahmed Mohamed, Addis Ababa resident who works on governance and security issues.

The author suggests there are six reasons why Ethiopia's transition to democracy is so fraught: (1) EPRDF dissension (2) Prosperity Party confusion (3) politicized security forces (4) politicized civil service (5) weak opposition parties (6) weak democratic institutions.

Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, and Freedom of Expression

African Arguments posted on 4 April 2018 a commentary titled "Ethiopia: Why PM Abiy Ahmed's First Priority Should Be Free Expression" by William Davison, journalist based in Addis Ababa.

The author argues that the key ingredient for a new Ethiopia is greater freedom of expression within government and throughout society.

Judicial Reform in Kenya

Innovations for Successful Societies published in November 2015 a study titled "Transforming the Courts: Judicial Sector Reforms in Kenya, 2011-2015" by Maya Gainer.  It evaluates a far-reaching judicial reform program called the Judiciary Transformation Framework. 

Judicial Reform in Kenya's Southern Rift Valley

The Journal of Legal Pluralism and Unofficial Law published in 2015 a study titled "Access to Justice, Impunity and Legal Pluralism in Kenya" by Jurg Helbling, Walter Kalin and Prosper Nobirabo.  The authors argue that legal pluralism reforms of the judiciary aimed at facilitating access to justice are suitable to address cases of functional impunity if such reforms manage to restore the trust of people in state institutions.  They are likely to fail where the reasons for impunity and its underlying conflicts are structural in nature.

Eritrea Rejects Devastating UN Human Rights Report

The UN Human Rights Council released on 5 June 2015 the lengthy "Report of the Detailed Findings of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea."  The Commission concluded that systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations have been and are being committed in Eritrea under the authority of the Eritrean government.  

The Eritrean foreign ministry declared the UN report was "totally unfounded and without merit" and said it constituted "extreme charges and indecent hyperbole" according to a 10 June 2015 report by Reuters.

Chinese Companies' Perception of Doing Business in Kenya

The Sino Africa Centre of Excellence (SACE) Foundation surveyed 75 Chinese private and state-owned companies in Kenya in 2014.  Drawing on the surveys, it published in January 2015 a major report titled "Business Perception Index Kenya - 2014: Chinese Companies' Perception Survey of Doing Business in Kenya 2014."

SACE said there are more than 40,000 Chinese nationals and about 400 Chinese companies in Kenya.  It defined a Chinese company as an establishment which has formally registered in Kenya and more than 50 percent of its shares are owned by Chinese nationals. 

Of the 75 companies that responded to the survey, the most common obstacle cited to doing business in Kenya was corruption at 68 percent.  Crime, theft and disorder and personal safety followed at 62 percent, and obtaining work permits at 41 percent.  The least serious obstacles to doing business were the court system (23 percent), getting electricity (23 percent), and labor management (21 percent). 

Power Sharing in Somalia

Chatham House published on 19 November 2014 commentary titled "The Pitfalls of Power-sharing in Somalia" by Jason Mosley.  It describes the most recent governance crisis following differences between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed. 

Security and Justice in Mogadishu

The Mogadishu-based Heritage Institute for Policy Studies published in September 2014 a briefing titled "Perceptions of Security and Justice in Mogadishu." 

It concludes that the residents of Mogadishu generally feel safer due to a decline in conflicts between clans and other groups.  But despite notable improvement in the general security environment, new sources of insecurity have arisen.  Suicide attacks, hand-grenade attacks, targeted killings, and land disputes are now among the leading causes of concern.  Residents question the capacity of formal security services and the integrity of the judiciary, often relying instead on traditional elders to resolve disputes.

Somalia's Military Court

Human Rights Watch published on 22 May 2014 a 33 page report titled "The Courts of 'Absolute Power': Fair Trial Violations by Somalia's Military Court."  The report documents violations of basic fair trial rights of defendants tried before military courts.

Gender Audit of Kenya's 2013 Election Process

USAID and the National Democratic Institute sponsored a study by the Federation of Women Lawyers of Kenya (FIDA) that resulted in the recent publication of "Key Gains and Challenges: A Gender Audit of Kenya's 2013 Election Process."

FIDA Kenya analyzed the gender responsiveness of the electoral environment through two key measurements: (1) the legal framework, and (2) institutional interventions.  In evaluating the legal framework, FIDA found that the letter of the law by way of the Constitution, national legislation, and international treaties provided the most favorable and inclusive electioneering environment in Kenya's history. 

FIDA concluded that most institutions took on a very passive and minimalistic approach to putting in place measures that would have enhanced the space for women as they pursued their civil and political rights.  Overall, FIDA found no justifiable reason for the consistent and systematic exclusion of women in politics, electoral processes, and, consequently, representation.

Somali Diaspora Comments on Country's Future

Chatham House in London hosted on 18 April 2013 a consultation with 35 members of the largely UK-based Somali diaspora to facilitate an exchange of thoughts and encourage open debate around issues affecting the future of Somalia's state and governance structures.  The meeting addressed regional autonomy, decentralization and federalism. 

Chatham House published a summary of the deliberations under the title "Somalia's Future: Building a Unified Regional State."

Somalia Conference 2013 in London

Somalia and the United Kingdom hosted a conference on Somalia in London on 7 May 2013.  The participants released a comprehensive communique at the end of the conference. 

While the conference was another positive step forward, what is important now for the Somali Federal Government is to spend more time building political support and federalism inside Somalia and less time at international conferences and travel to foreign capitals.