Sub-Saharan Africa
The future of Africa is often regarded in a strangely unimaginative and pessimistic way. Yet Africa today is full of diversity, economic potential and innovative development.
However, the continent faces numerous challenges. As a liberal foundation, we believe that sustainable development depends on strong democratic institutions. Through our activities, we therefore promote liberal policies such as human rights, the rule of law, innovation, digitalisation and free trade.
From our offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Nairobi, Abidjan and Dakar, we support partners in several African countries in advocating liberal values and implementing democratic structures.
News
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Nairobi and Pretoria are seeking a partnership with real economic substance
President Ruto’s South Africa visit shifts focus from ceremony to citizens: freer trade, mobility and AfCFTA must deliver real opportunities for entrepreneurs, youth and communities in both nations.
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The battle that keeps haunting South Africa
South Africa’s anger over jobs, crime and services is real. But scapegoating migrants betrays Freedom Day’s promise: dignity, rights, rule of law and better answers than populist blame.
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The end of dual leadership
Senegal’s ruling alliance has fractured, as Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko shift from united reformers to rival power centers, testing institutions and risking a new political crisis.
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Implications of the recently passed Protection of Sovereignty Bill
Museveni’s Protection of Sovereignty Bill risks silencing critics, crippling civil society, and pushing Uganda toward deeper autocracy under the guise of defending national sovereignty.
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Hope and challenges for Eastern Congo
Hope and challenges in Eastern Congo; A Berlin panel explored conflict colonial legacies resources and local peacebuilding showing why Congolese resilience deserves active European support.
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Petrol pump, fertiliser, dilemma
Iran’s Hormuz blockade is hitting South Africa hard, exposing its fuel, fertiliser and LNG import dependence as petrol and food prices rise, revealing deeper structural vulnerabilities.
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Why South Africa’s future depends on the law, not mob justice
Johannesburg unrest exposes rising populism and xenophobia. As protests grow, South Africa faces a critical choice: uphold the rule of law or risk deeper division through fear, failure, and mob justice.
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FNF Sub-Saharan Africa Launches Liberal Youth Competition Series
Young Africans are invited to share their ideas on freedom, democracy and liberal values through quizzes, poetry, video, social storytelling and art. Win a Nubia or Vivo smartphone.
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Inside South Africa’s Democratic Alliance, its democratic rise and lessons for Kenya
As democracy faces mounting pressure, leaders from Kenya, Germany and Ghana gathered in South Africa to explore how parties can govern effectively while preserving identity, strengthening institutions and sustaining public trust.
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What I have learnt from young leaders in Africa
At the RENEWPAC Summit in Rabat, I realised that hope is a choice. Encounters with courageous liberals from Africa and Europe showed why genuine partnership, freedom and cooperation matter now more than ever.
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A win-win policy for Africa and Europe
Political leaders and young changemakers from Africa and Europe gather in Rabat for the RENEWPAC Summit 2026 to strengthen liberal partnerships and explore solutions for governance, trade, climate and youth participation.
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The future of the South Africa-Germany partnership
South Africa and Germany confront a “New Normal” in global trade. At an FNF panel in Johannesburg, leaders discussed supply chains, green transition and investment, while tackling corruption and infrastructure challenges.
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How one interview sparked diplomatic engagement
Animu A. Risasi Amitai’s story of statelessness is sparking diplomatic engagement ahead of South Sudan’s 2026 elections, showing how personal testimony can drive dialogue on rights and inclusion.
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Safeguarding humanity in the age of unpredictability
New publication on International Humanitarian Law examines why the rules of war still matter. Focusing on Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado conflict, it offers practical guidance to protect civilians.
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Between Washington and Brics — SA’s strategic squeeze
SA’s Brics+ naval drills aren’t a reckless pivot but a hedge in a fractured world order. As US pressure grows, Pretoria is diversifying partners while urging deeper, values-based ties with Europe.
Social Media
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Meet Pheladi Tlhatlha from Limpopo, South Africa, one of the Umholi we Africa Cohort 4 Fellows. For Pheladi, public service is about understanding how systems work from the inside. Coming from a scientific background, she is passionate about connecting technical knowledge with governance, stakeholder engagement, and the experiences of people on the ground. Her message to young people is clear: active citizenship matters. Public participation is part of governance, and young people need to be more proactive in finding and using those spaces. #Up4Democracy #UmholiWeAfrica
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Meet Umar Danilo Aly from Mozambique, one of the Umholi we Africa Cohort 4 Fellows. For Umar, public service is closely tied to youth representation. He believes that because many of Africa’s challenges affect young people directly, young people must also be part of the decision-making process. He also sees Mozambique’s work in supporting youth entrepreneurship, particularly in rural areas, as an important lesson for the continent, one that can help advance economic empowerment and freedom for young Africans. #Up4Democracy #UmholiWeAfrica
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Meet Buhlebakhe Ncube from Zimbabwe, one of the Umholi we Africa Cohort 4 Fellows. For Buhlebakhe, public service is not abstract. It begins in her city, Bulawayo, and grows from a deep desire to help build a more equitable world. Through the Fellowship, she is learning new skills and gaining practical tools to serve with greater purpose, confidence, and impact. #Up4Democracy #UmholiWeAfrica
