“President Jammeh has followed his own set of rules for more than two decades, using any opportunity to entrench his abusive rule and evade accountability for his innumerable crimes,” said Jeffrey Smith, founding director of Vanguard Africa. “It is very concerning that this comes weeks before a presidential election, the lead-up of which has been fraught with violence against the opposition, killings and highly incendiary rhetoric espoused by Jammeh himself."

Political parties in Zimbabwe are seething over South Africa’s mellow response to its political and economic crisis, which they say is spiraling out of control.

The Gambia's decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) is coming as the country has been arresting and charging activists and opposition members in the lead-up to December presidential election.

The Gambia has become the third African nation withdrawing its membership from the Hague-based International Criminal Court, accusing the body of not pursuing war crime charges against European nations.

Dr. Isatou Touray’s campaign is now getting support from Vanguard Africa, a pro-democracy movement that provides assistance to pro-reform candidates in Africa.

Jeffrey Smith, a Washington-based human rights expert who has worked with LGBT activists from Uganda and other African countries, is the founding director of the Vanguard Africa Movement, which promotes good governance and ethical leadership on the continent. He told the Washington Blade that Trump “once again displayed his affection for all things authoritarian when he vowed to lock up his opponent” at Sunday’s presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis.

Ethiopia is observing an official mourning period for more than 50 people killed during a crackdown and stampede at an ethnic cultural festival in the Oromia region Sunday.

Human rights campaigners are expressing concerns over Russian involvement in The Gambia ahead of the West African nation’s critical winter polls.

“We should all be highly skeptical regarding the statements made about Feyisa’s supposed safety when he returns home,” says Jeffrey Smith of Vanguard Africa. “Over the years, the Ethiopian government has shown a ruthless inability to accept or otherwise tolerate any semblance of criticism.”