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Ethiopia Needs the United States to Act as an Honest Broker in the Nile Dam Dispute

As East Africa faces a triple crisis from COVID-19, floods, and locusts, cutting U.S. aid to the Ethiopian government is not the solution. Neutral mediation to resolve the GERD dispute can result in a win-win situation.

Argument |

Tigist Mekonnen Melesse

Afghanistan Takes One Small Step Toward Peace

An agreement on rules and procedures of future talks is the first sign of progress between the Afghan government and Taliban in months.

Morning Brief |

Biden Needs to Move Fast if He Wants a New Deal With Iran

Moderates will lose the June 2021 presidential election in Iran unless there is a new agreement and sanctions relief—and the United States can forget diplomacy if hardliners win.

Argument |

Why China Just Doubled Down on Australia

Facing increasingly hostile diplomacy, Canberra is more likely to strengthen defense ties with Washington than cave to Beijing.

China Brief |

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Argument: Will COVID-19 Kill Democracy? Will COVID-19 Kill Democracy?...

Jeffrey Smith

Jeffrey Smith is the founding director of the pro-democracy nonprofit organization Vanguard Africa.

Stories by Jeffrey Smith

A supporter of Tanzania’s ruling party holds a sign during the official launch of its official campaign for the October general election in Dodoma, Tanzania, on Aug. 29.

Will COVID-19 Kill Democracy?

Argument |

Travis L. Adkins, Jeffrey Smith

September 18, 2020, 10:57 AM

People wait in line to vote on June 9, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia.

To Save Its Democracy, the United States Needs a Dose of Its Own Medicine

Argument |

Jeffrey Smith, Nic Cheeseman

June 14, 2020, 8:40 AM

A woman watches a live broadcast of Russian President Vladimir Putin's address to the nation over the coronavirus outbreak.

Authoritarians Are Exploiting the Coronavirus. Democracies Must Not Follow Suit.

Argument |

Jeffrey Smith, Nic Cheeseman

April 28, 2020, 4:01 AM

Cameroonian President Paul Biya looks toward supporters from his motorcade in Yaoundé on Nov. 6, 2018.

The U.S. Should Bid Biya Goodbye

Argument |

July 10, 2019, 6:30 AM

A man closes a voting station in Kinshasa ahead of counting the ballots after presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Dec. 30, 2018.

No Democracy Is an Island

Argument |

Jeffrey Smith, Hilary Matfess

May 8, 2019, 2:38 PM

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