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Clair MacDougall is an independent journalist and writer, currently based in West Africa and covering the elections in Mali. Her recent work has focused on Liberia’s post-war construction and imperfect attempts to reconcile with its brutal past. Clair has reported on the Ebola outbreak and its aftermath for the past two years, contributing to the New York Times’ Pulitzer Prize winning coverage and earning her the Kurt Schork Memorial Fund Award. She has written about mercenaries, former warlords, justice for war crimes, government corruption, drug abuse, former female child soldiers, rebel combatants, women’s rights and social justice issues. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Vogue, Newsweek, Time, Smithsonian Magazine, Stern, Al Jazeera America and Foreign Policy and she has reported from West Africa, Uganda, India, rural Australia and the United States. She holds an honors degree in political theory and is a graduate of Columbia’s journalism school. She is a recent Great Lakes Reporting Fellow with the International Women's Media Foundation. She is available for assignments in West Africa and Africa. Her work can be seen at www.ckmacdougall.com
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It Happened at the UN: Week Ending Jan. 26
PassBlue's weekly UN summary includes Azerbaijan leading COP29, a garbage crisis in Gaza, and the US envoy's visit to Liberia. Sigrid Kaag, the new Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, began her role by meeting Israeli and Palestinian officials. The UN Security Council will hear her assessment on January 30. The International Court of Justice ruled that Israel must prevent harm to Palestinians in Gaza, a decision the US deems meritless. The UN is investigating allegations against UNRWA staff linked to terror attacks, with the US pausing funding. Raisedon Zenenga was appointed deputy special representative in Somalia. A proposal suggests electing a female UN General Assembly president every other year.
Liberia’s President Concedes Election Defeat in a Knife-Edge Vote
Liberia's President George Weah conceded defeat to Joseph Boakai in a closely contested runoff election, marking a peaceful transition of power. Boakai, a former vice president, won with 50.89 percent of the votes against Weah's 49.11 percent. The election was a test of democracy in Liberia, contrasting with the political instability in other West African nations.
Liberia's President Concedes Election Defeat In A Knife-edge Vote
President George Weah of Liberia, previously a soccer star, conceded his re-election defeat to Joseph Boakai, the 78-year-old former vice president. Weah's administration faced corruption accusations during his tenure. The election was closely contested, and the announcement of the results was made on November 17, 2023.
What you need to know about the presidential elections in Liberia
In 2017, former football superstar George Weah was elected president of Liberia, promising to fix the economy, build roads, and tackle endemic corruption. Six years later, his popularity has waned due to criticisms of spending too much time abroad and insufficient efforts to fight corruption. As Liberians voted on October 10 to decide on his re-election, the outcome remains uncertain. Liberia's presidential election is a test for representative government in West Africa, where coups and constitutional violations have occurred. The U.S. imposed visa restrictions on individuals undermining Liberia's democracy, and three people died in campaign clashes. Preliminary counts are expected soon, with official results by the end of the month. Weah's main opponent is Joseph Boakai, who has been criticized for allying with ex-military leader Prince Johnson. Concerns of unrest and violence loom if the election goes to a second round, as both Weah and Boakai claim they will win outright.
Warlord Politics
Roland Duo, a former Liberian general, ran for Senate against ex-warlord and incumbent Senator Prince Yormie Johnson in Liberia's October general election. The contest highlighted the enduring influence of former warlord politicians and ethnic alliances in Liberia, even two decades after the civil war's end. Duo and Johnson both leveraged their wartime records during the campaign, with Duo supporting incumbents George Weah and Jewel Taylor, and Johnson backing the Unity Party's Joseph Boakai. The article recounts the violent history of both candidates, including footage of wartime atrocities and their testimonies before the truth and reconciliation commission. Despite calls for a war crimes court and accountability for past actions, Johnson won the local race in Nimba County, and Boakai won the presidential race. The future of Liberia's political landscape remains uncertain, with questions about the extent of Johnson's influence and the possibility of establishing a court for war and economic crimes.
93 Hours and 11 Minutes: A Nigerian Sets a World Record for Marathon Cooking, Exciting the Country in Her Feat
Hilda Bassey, a 27-year-old Nigerian with a passion for cooking but no formal culinary education, set a new Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, clocking in at 93 hours and 11 minutes. Her feat, which involved preparing dozens of dishes including the iconic jollof rice, surpassed the previous record held by Indian chef Lata Tondon. Bassey's accomplishment was celebrated by Nigerians, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and has sparked a trend of world record attempts in Nigeria. Bassey, who has a background in food media and runs a food prep and delivery service, aimed to put herself and Nigeria on the world map with her record-breaking attempt.
Who Killed Thomas Sankara?
In Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, a trial is underway for 14 men accused of assassinating President Thomas Sankara, a Marxist leader, over 34 years ago. The prosecution's first witness, Yamba Elysée Ilboudo, claimed he drove the assassins but did not see who fired the shots. The trial is seen as a victory for accountability and a test for justice in Africa. Suspicions of French and foreign involvement in Sankara's assassination persist, and the US has never publicly commented on the case. The alleged mastermind, Blaise Compaoré, and lead executioner, Hyacinthe Kafando, are not present for the trial. Lawyers for the Sankara family fear the full truth may not emerge, and only the 'pawns' will be punished. The trial is expected to last four months, with a mix of civilian and military court proceedings.
Burkina Faso’s Soldier-Singers Promote Security Forces
In Burkina Faso, soldier-singers are using their musical talents to support the armed forces' public image amidst criticism for human rights abuses in the war against Islamist militants. The initiative is part of a broader effort to win the support of the population.
Burkina Faso’s Soldier-Singers Promote Security Forces
Burkina Faso's soldiers are using music to garner public support and improve the image of the armed forces amidst the war against Islamist militants. Police Sergeant Yacouba Sourabié, also known as 'General Yack', and other soldiers sing about their experiences on the battlefield, aiming to boost morale and encourage societal unity against terrorism. Director San Remy Traoré collaborates with security forces to create music videos for this purpose. However, the Collective Against Impunity and Stigmatization of Communities highlights the need for the military to respect civilian rights, referencing past abuses documented by Human Rights Watch. The gendarme duo LaCrew's song 'The Patriot' calls for collective action against terrorism.
Malian Refugees Recover From Trauma With Dance
Malian refugees Amiri Ag Abdoulaye and Mohammed Ould Najim, who met in a Burkina Faso refugee camp, have overcome trauma from fleeing Islamist violence through a dance program. The initiative, founded by an internationally recognized Burkinabè dancer, aims to use dance training as a means for reconciliation and healing among marginalized youth.
Peace Inc.' Has Failed. This Expert Proposes a New Way to Peacemaking
Séverine Autesserre, a professor at Columbia University, critiques the UN's peacekeeping model, which she dubs 'Peace Inc.', and proposes an alternative, more effective form of peacemaking that emphasizes listening, local knowledge, and long-term commitment. Her book 'The Frontlines of Peace' showcases success stories from conflict zones and suggests that everyone has the potential to contribute to global peace. Autesserre shared her insights with PassBlue and presented them to the UN Security Council.
Ebola Doc: ‘COVAX Is Just a Way for White Men to Absolve Their Conscience’
Liberian Dr. James Soka Moses, reflecting on the Ebola outbreak, is part of a group calling for vaccine equality ahead of the World Health Assembly. They support a proposal for countries with excess COVID-19 vaccines to donate to COVAX and for G20 countries to contribute financially. The group, including Dr. Mosoka Fallah, also supports waiving patent protection for vaccines, a move recently endorsed by U.S. President Joe Biden. The WHO and other health experts express concern over the slow vaccine rollout in African countries and the risk of mutations. COVAX has been criticized for its ineffectiveness, and experts emphasize the need for global cooperation to address the pandemic.
As the Nobel Peace Prize Is Awarded to the World Food Program, Famines Loom
David Beasley, head of the World Food Program, warns of potential famines of biblical proportions in 2021, with 270 million people facing starvation if sufficient funds are not raised. The World Food Program, needing an additional $5 billion, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to combat hunger and prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war. The prize comes at a critical time, as the agency struggles to maintain global attention amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the US presidential election. The US, historically the top donor, has made significant contributions, but its aid has been affected by budget cuts under the Trump administration. The article also discusses the broader implications of the prize and the UN's role in peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts.
Does the New US Envoy for Women's Rights Have Anything to Do?
Kelley Currie, the US ambassador-at-large for global women's issues, has shown little progress in promoting women's rights under an administration known for its regressive stance on gender equality. Despite the role's importance, Currie's efforts are constrained by the Trump administration's policies, including opposition to reproductive and sexual health rights. The administration's actions, such as the global gag rule and cuts to international support for sexual and reproductive health services, have been criticized by various rights advocates. The position's potential to effect change is limited by the current political climate, and there is skepticism about the administration's commitment to advancing global women's rights.
With a sweat slicked forearm, Bacchus Wilson Panyonnoh hacks away the vines that snake over a young oil palm tree. He knows the rhythm of a whipping cutlass, the oppressive tropical heat that clings like a second skin and the dull sting of calloused hands well. The 35-year-old comes from a long line of farmers and hunters from the remote forests of south-eastern Liberia. But instead of cutting back relentless jungle in search of farmland or bushmeat, Panyonnoh moves between rows of stout trees on what is set to become the largest palm plantation in Liberia.
In June 2015, Ugandan IT worker Robert Shaka was arrested after being accused of mocking his government on Facebook. He claims it wasn’t him – but does this system care? Wired Reports on a continent getting to grips with online dissent.
A Newsweek cover story about gang violence, a fight over fruit and a suspected murder that nearly through the city into crisis at the end of the epidemic. "In shock, Norman watched as the police quickly cordoned off the shed. Two days later, a Red Cross burial team arrived dressed in hazmat suits; a neighbor had called them, concerned that Logan may have had Ebola. The burial team took a swab of his mouth and later determined he indeed had been infected. Yet because it wasn’t clear what had ultimately killed him, Ebola or his wounds, the Red Cross allowed the police to take pictures of Logan’s corpse, since they would be investigating a possible murder. When they were done, the burial workers placed his body in a white bag, heaved it into the back of a pickup truck and drove to a special cemetery, where in recent months Ebola victims had been buried to prevent the disease from spreading."
An investigation into how one of Liberia's last Ebola cases slipped through the cracks. "It was like a story from the early days of the Ebola epidemic. Fifteen-year-old Nathan Gbotoe was weak and bleeding from the mouth, traveling with his father and four other people in a neighbor’s car from a crowded clinic, seeking treatment. Finally Gbotoe ended up at John F. Kennedy Medical Center, Liberia’s largest public hospital, located in the heart of the capital, Monrovia. His father claimed his son had been cut during an accident. His temperature was checked and he didn’t have a fever — none of the health workers responsible for triaging patients suspected him of being infected with the virus."
An article on the mounting violence in the lead up to Uganda's elections. "Ugandan police in the capital city of Kampala fired weapons and tear gas Monday at supporters of opposition presidential candidate Kizza Besigye, who is running in the upcoming election against President Yoweri Museveni, a former rebel leader and ally of the U.S. who has been president for the past 30 years. Besigye supporters threw rocks, burned furniture and set up roadblocks before the red berets, a senior military police force, stormed through the streets with AK-47s and armored police vehicles."
An article on the ongoing struggles of West Point, Liberia's largest slum. "In August 2014, the neighborhood began its fight against the Ebola virus, after being cordoned off by the police and the military in an attempt to stop the spread of the disease. The epidemic drew attention to the living conditions in West Point, where most people have limited access to water and use wooden toilets that hang on stilts over the river. Electricity is intermittent, in part because of power theft. Since West Point registered its last Ebola case in December 2014, small improvements in infrastructure have occurred."
An article for Newsweek magazine challenging the notion of "Ebola free" in the aftermath the world's worst Ebola epidemic. "On March 17, the WHO announced “the end of the recent flare-up of Ebola virus” in Sierra Leone but urged the nation, along with Guinea and Liberia, to “remain on high alert (...) While Sierra Leone was not declared Ebola-free this time around, the WHO has not explained its past decisions to state that these countries are rid of the virus when some experts think the disease has been in circulation for decades and could become endemic."
Feature for Smithsonian Magazine on Liberia's complicated history and the legacy of slavery in the American south: "The short iron fence that surrounds the regal mansion, known locally as “the palace,” bears a monogram—“WVST,” for William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, Liberia’s longest-serving president, known for his 27 years of autocratic rule beginning in 1944. But the home of the man called “the father of modern Liberia” because he opened the nation to foreign investment and industry is now in ruins and occupied by squatters, a symbol of how decades of political turmoil have shaken up the old order established by freed American slaves."
The article explores the dilapidated state of the mansion once owned by William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, Liberia's longest-serving president. The mansion, now in ruins and occupied by squatters, symbolizes the political turmoil and the decline of the Americo-Liberian elite's power. Americo-Liberians, descendants of freed American slaves, once dominated Liberia's political and economic landscape, emulating the American South's culture. However, their rule was marked by inequality and exclusion of the native population. The article discusses the 1980 coup led by Samuel Doe, which ended Americo-Liberian dominance. It also touches on the current state of Liberia, where Americo-Liberians still hold influence but not total control, and the perspectives of different generations and social groups on the country's history and identity.
An essay Uganda's controversial 2016 elections for Harper's Magazine: "Dressed in a charcoal suit and a yellow tie that hung several inches too long, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Uganda’s president of thirty years, sat two chairs away from his longtime political rival Kizza Besigye in the auditorium of the Kampala Serena Hotel. “Democracy means the people support you. If they don’t support you, you don’t win. That’s all, thank you very much,” said Museveni, as if the seventy-one-year-old showman were attempting to call the curtains down on the country’s second-ever presidential debate."
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