Ecuador, Niger, Egypt.

Today's three stories you should know.

Aug 20, 2023

Ecuador

Ecuadorians voted today in an election marred by the assassination of one of the top candidates. Security was tight as voters headed to the polls with reports that 100,000 police and soldiers had been deployed to the streets to ensure things went smoothly. None of the expected frontrunners are expected to get an overall majority, which means a run-off is the likely outcome. Ecuador was once one of the most peaceful nations in the region but in recent years it has been overwhelmed by drug gangs.

Niger

Niger’s coup leader has promised a three-year transition to democracy after meeting with a delegation of West African leaders. However, General Abdourahmane Tchiani gave no further details and warned that any attack on Niger would “not be a walk in the park” for the countries involved. The main regional bloc in West Africa, ECOWAS, has imposed sanctions on Niger and demanded the generals who led the coup step aside, restore democracy and free toppled President Mohamed Bazoum.

Egypt

Good news out of Egypt as Ahmed Douma, one of the most prominent activists behind the 2011 popular uprising that ousted longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak, was freed by presidential pardon. Egyptian rights activists shared their joy on social media with Mona Seif, whose brother Alaa Abdel-Fatthah remains in prison, posting on Facebook: “Douma has not set foot out of prison since 2013 ... my heart will burst.”