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The latest stories from NDI.

NDI's Les Campbell on Yemen's Tribal Islamists

A new book, The Islamists Are Coming: Who They Really Are, is the first to survey the rise of Islamist groups in the wake of the Arab Spring. There are more than 50 Islamist parties across the region with millions of followers. Though they are often lumped together, the parties have diverse political ideologies, goals and constituencies.

Kosovo Fellow to Connect Women Leaders at Local, National Levels
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As a young Kosovar Albanian subjected to Slobodan Milosevic’s dictatorship, Aferdita Syla, like tens of thousands of other young people, faced discrimination in education and virtually every other aspect of her young life.  Her fundamental rights of citizenship were wholly denied.  She had little in the way of realizing her dreams to live a normal life in a normal country.

Monitoring Groups Agree to Work Together to Advance Parliamentary Transparency
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For the first time, a broad and diverse gathering of civil society representatives from 38 countries convened in Washington this week and established a shared commitment to advocate for strong, open parliaments that embody citizens' voices.  

Manikas Testifies in Senate on Burma’s Democratic Progress

After decades of military rule and economic stagnation, Burma is beginning to institute political and economic reforms, but these are only beginning, Peter Manikas, NDI senior associate and regional director for Asia programs, said in Senate testimony April 26 before the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific Affairs. The outcome is not assured, he said.  The political situation is fragile and much more needs to be done to help ensure that the democratization process continues. 

NDI Chairman Albright To Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom
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NDI Chairman and former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright will be awarded the 2012 Predential Medal of Freedom, President Barack Obama announced. The Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, is presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. Albright is one of the 13 people selected to receive the medal this year. The awards will be presented at the White House in late spring.

For The First Time, Libyan Citizen Network Will Observe Elections

A coalition of civil society organizations from across Libya has launched the Shahed Network for election observation, the first citizen election monitoring effort ever attempted in the country.

Congolese Want Leaders to “Reach Out To Us,” Opinion Research Finds

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New focus group research from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) finds an overwhelming majority of participants believe the country can become a full-fledged democracy, provided it has better leadership and unity among the people. Those surveyed were also especially concerned with the corrosive power of corruption in the country, and they want political parties and elected leaders to be more responsive to citizens.

Slovakia Elects First Roma Representative to Parliament
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Slovakia made history in April when Peter Pollak took his seat in parliament as the country’s first Roma citizen elected to nationwide office. His victory in March’s parliamentary elections is the culmination of a decade-long journey of grassroots organizing, coalition building and setbacks at the ballot box that ultimately, through perseverance and support, paved the way to his breakthrough this year.

Fomunyoh Testifies to Senate on Entrenched African Leadership

Entrenched and often autocratic one-man rule is causing a “democracy deficit” and impeding political development in many African countries, Christopher Fomunyoh, senior associate and regional director for Central and West Africa at NDI, said in congressional testimony April 18.

Political Parties in Sierra Leone Pledge Open, Safe, Inclusive Elections
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All of Sierra Leone’s eight registered political parties have signed an “Open and Safe Elections Pledge” to promote an electoral atmosphere free of violence and intimidation and to encourage women to participate in the election process. The country is slated to have presidential, parliamentary and local elections on Nov. 17.

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