Liberia's democracy 1 – Trump 0

After this issue, you'll know the who's who of Liberian politics (and you will have listened to Hipco), you'll get a pretty detailed breakdown of the resistance and pro-democracy movement in Myanmar, and learn how to interpret the latest International Criminal Court ruling on Syria's torture tactics in its prisons. Plus, an Indian superhero movie to distract you from doomscrolling, an investigative podcast on the mysterious case of Grenada's revolutionary leader Maurice Bishop, an online database that saved countless lives in post-earthquake Morocco, a visually stunning but super sad documentary about what it means to live in Mauretania's Sahara region, and... AI girlfriends. And so much more.

Liberia has a new president -- here's what you need to know

What happened:
Joseph Boakai is the new president of Liberia.

Why this matters:
Liberia's been through a lot; think two civil wars, Ebola. You may also know this region as the military coup region. "Not in Liberia, though," writes the European Union's Election Observation Mission. Here, this election was able to peacefully transfer power from one political leader to another. The election, first held on Oct. 10 with the runoff last Tuesday, was the first one managed solely by Liberian authorities without international funding or assistance since the civil war ended in 2003. On a more concrete level, this election may also decide whether the country is going to move forward with a controversial and very huge deal with a company from the United Arab Emirates. Some five million people live here, 60 percent of them are under the age of 25.

Tell me more:
Boakai is 75 years old, was vice president for 12 years, won the election with 50.9 percent of the vote to 49.1 percent of the sitting president George Weah (57, used to be an international football star). Yes, it was this narrow. "I urge you to follow my example and accept the result of the elections," he said, adding that "our time will come again" in 2029 when Boakai's six-year term in office ends. (Is former U.S. president Donald Trump subscribed to this newsletter?) The last time these two competed against one another was in 2017, Weah back then got 62 percent of the vote. Boakai will be sworn in two months.

How is Liberia doing?
The World Bank will tell you that Liberia's economy grew by 4.8 percent in 2022, mainly driven by mining and a relatively good agricultural harvest. The World Bank will also tell you that more than 80 percent of the population is food insecure, and prices of basic food products and fuel have gotten way too high this past year, with over half of Liberians living below the poverty line, on US$1.90 a day.

Did you know
that Liberia declared independence in the 19th century, a century ahead of most African countries? Their democratic political system was/is modeled on that of the United States.

Tell me more about that deal you mentioned
"A company established by a Dubai sheikh is finalizing agreements with African nations to manage vast tracts of their forests and sell the carbon credits. Critics are concerned the deals will not benefit Africans and will just help foreign governments perpetuate high emissions," Fred Pearce sums it up for Yale Environment 360. The sheikh is Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, a member of the royal family of Dubai. His company wants ten percent of Liberia's forests for 30 years. George Weah was in favor of it, Boakai is much more skeptical. I go into more detail for my German speakers in "Die Wochendämmerung".

Not politics:
Have you ever heard of Hipco? It's a genre of hip-hop from Liberia. I added some famous Hipco artists to this newsletter's Spotify playlist, Go Global Weekly, so you can check it out.

The military in Myanmar is slowly losing control

Refresher:
Remember back in February 2021 when the military took over in a coup, putting the democratically elected leaders behind bars? They claimed election fraud but didn't really show any proof. Since then, the people of Myanmar haven't exactly been sitting quietly. There's a mix of ethnic groups and pro-democracy fighters, all armed, trying to wrestle back control of their country.

What happened:
Fast forward to October 27, and things have heated up. Three armed ethnic groups, collectively known as the Brotherhood Alliance, launched an offensive in the northern Shan State. They've managed to snatch several key towns from the military regime. This operation, dubbed Operation 1027, has unfortunately led to over 150 civilian deaths, as reported by rights groups. The military, or the junta, is now teetering on the edge, potentially losing control over major border crossings crucial for their trade and tax revenue.

Why this matters:
The stakes are high. The Myanmar Assistance Association for Political Prisoners tells us about 25,000 people have been arrested, and over 4,100 killed by the military. The UN reports at least 1.7 million internally displaced, with another million having fled the country.

Tell me more:
These resistance groups aren't new; they've been around and fragmented across Myanmar. But now, they're gaining momentum, thanks to the Brotherhood Alliance's recent successes. Richard Horsey from the International Crisis Group suggests caution in declaring this a game-changer just yet. However, analysts agree that this is the biggest challenge the junta has faced since their 2021 power grab.

What about political opposition to the junta?
Absolutely. There's the National Unity Government of Myanmar (N.U.G.), formed post-coup. It's a mix of ousted government members, activists, and ethnic minorities. They haven't been formally recognized globally but are doing significant work, like providing health and education services in resistant areas. They're funded by a global diaspora -- from housekeepers in Bangladesh to tech entrepreneurs in Singapore. They have yet to produce a federal constitution to protect Myanmar's diverse ethnicities. The New York Times' Hannah Beech did an in-depth profile on the N.U.G. office in Washington D.C. that opened a year ago. Think virtual meetings, entire office is barely larger than a cubicle, etc. They dream of more support, akin to what Ukraine receives from the U.S., to bolster their cause.

Details:
The N.U.G. is diverse. It includes a Rohingya member and someone who previously wouldn't even acknowledge the Rohingya's existence. Talk about a complex political landscape.

Did you know:
the national football coach in Myanmar is...