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Nigeria [Updated July 15, 2019]
From the Document: "Successive U.S. Administrations have viewed the U.S.-Nigeria relationship as one of the most important in Africa, given Nigeria's size, political role, and economic weight in the region. It is Africa's largest economy and most populous country, with Muslims and Christians constituting nearly equal shares of the population. Nigeria has one of the world's largest Muslim communities and Lagos, Nigeria's commercial center, is among the world's largest cities. In the United States, Nigerians represent the largest African diaspora group."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Husted, Tomas F.
2019-07-15
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Eritrea [Updated February 28, 2019]
From the Document, "Eritrea has been called a pariah state by some observers for its poor human rights record, political repression, and history of aid to rebel groups in the region. International support for the country, which gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, declined after a border war with Ethiopia (1998-2000), amidst a severe crackdown on dissent. Recent political reforms in Ethiopia, however, have precipitated a rapprochement between those two countries, which ended a military stalemate along the border in July 2018. Ethiopia has since facilitated renewed ties between Eritrea and its rivals Djibouti and Somalia. In late 2018, in recognition of 'historic rapprochements in the Horn of Africa,' the U.N. Security Council lifted sanctions that were imposed on Eritrea in 2009 in response to its border conflict with Djibouti and support for armed groups in the region. Such progress notwithstanding, Eritrea remains a closed society in which the government controls the economy and sharply limits civil liberties."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Husted, Tomas F.
2019-02-28
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Nigeria: Current Issues and U.S. Policy [March 11, 2016]
"The U.S. government considers its relationship with Nigeria, Africa's largest producer of oil and its largest economy, to be among the most important on the continent. The country is Africa's most populous, with more than 180 million people, roughly evenly divided between Muslims and Christians. Nigeria, which transitioned from military to civilian rule in 1999, ranked until recently among the top suppliers of U.S. oil imports, and is a major recipient of U.S. foreign aid. It is an influential actor in African politics and a major troop contributor to U.N. peacekeeping missions. [...] The Obama Administration has been supportive of reform initiatives in Nigeria, including anti-corruption efforts, economic and electoral reforms, energy sector privatization, and programs to promote peace and development in the Niger Delta. In 2010, the Administration established the U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission, a strategic dialogue to address issues of mutual concern. Congress regularly monitors Nigerian political developments, and some Members have expressed concern with corruption, human rights abuses, and the threat of violent extremism in Nigeria. Congress oversees more than $600 million in U.S. foreign aid programs in Nigeria-one of the largest U.S. bilateral assistance packages in Africa."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Husted, Tomas F.; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch
2016-03-11
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Nigeria: Current Issues and U.S. Policy [Updated February 1, 2019]
"Successive Administrations have described the U.S. relationship with Nigeria, Africa's largest producer of oil and its largest economy, to be among the most important on the continent. The country is Africa's most populous, with more than 200 million people, roughly evenly divided between Muslims and Christians. Nigeria, which transitioned from military to civilian rule in 1999, ranked for years among the top suppliers of U.S. oil imports, and it is a major recipient of U.S. foreign aid. The country is the United States' second-largest trading partner in Africa and the third-largest beneficiary of U.S. foreign direct investment on the continent. Nigerians comprise the largest African diaspora group in the United States. [...] U.S.-Nigeria relations under the Trump Administration appear generally consistent with U.S. policy under the Obama Administration. Both Administrations have supported reform initiatives in Nigeria, including anticorruption efforts, economic and electoral reforms, energy sector privatization, and programs to promote peace and development. Congress oversees more than $500 million in U.S. foreign aid programs in Nigeria and regularly monitors political developments; some Members have expressed concern with corruption, human rights abuses, and violent extremism in Nigeria."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Husted, Tomas F.
2019-02-01
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Gulf of Guinea: Recent Trends in Piracy and Armed Robbery [February 26, 2019]
"Armed attacks against ships in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea surged in 2018, making these waters off West and Central Africa the world's most dangerous for piracy and armed robbery. The escalation confirms the Gulf of Guinea's status as the main locus for maritime insecurity in Africa, which had long been associated with the Horn of Africa, particularly Somalia. Rising piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea likely reflects the region's growing prominence in global maritime trade, as well as capacity and coordination gaps among many of the region's navies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Husted, Tomas F.
2019-02-26
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Sub-Saharan Africa: Key Issues and U.S. Engagement [Updated January 15, 2019]
"This report provides an introduction to select issues related to sub-Saharan Africa (henceforth, 'Africa,' unless otherwise noted) and U.S. policy toward the region. It includes general information concerning Africa's economic and development challenges, governance and human rights trends on the continent, and key issues related to peace and security. It also provides an overview of U.S. engagement in Africa and current U.S. policy approaches toward the region. This report is intended to serve as a primer to help inform deliberations on key enduring issues for Congress, which include the authorization and appropriation of funding for U.S. foreign aid programs and U.S. military activities in the region and oversight of U.S. programs and policies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Husted, Tomas F.; Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch . . .
2019-01-15
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Failed Coup Attempt in Gabon [January 9, 2019]
"On January 7, a small group of Gabonese soldiers seized the state broadcasting building in Gabon's capital, Libreville, and declared their intention to overthrow the government of President Ali Bongo Ondimba. Within hours, security forces retook the building and put down the coup attempt. The attempt followed months of political uncertainty after the president (aged 59) suffered a stroke in Saudi Arabia in October 2018; he has since remained outside the country and is currently convalescing in Morocco."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Husted, Tomas F.; Arieff, Alexis
2019-01-09
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The Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) [September 3, 2019]
From the Document: "The Republic of Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville (after its capital), is an oil-rich former French colony in central Africa. It has extensive natural resources, but poor governance and civil conflict have long hindered poverty alleviation and development. Heavily reliant on oil exports, the country is struggling to emerge from an economic crisis precipitated by the collapse of global oil prices in 2014. The price shock sent Congo into a deep recession in 2016-2017; it remains in severe debt distress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Husted, Tomas F.; Arieff, Alexis
2019-09-03
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Sub-Saharan Africa: Key Issues, Challenges, and U.S. Responses [March 21, 2017]
"The 115th Congress and the Trump Administration are reviewing existing U.S. policies and programs in sub-Saharan Africa (henceforth, 'Africa') as they establish their budgetary and policy priorities toward the region while also responding to emerging crises. Africa-specific policy questions did not feature prominently in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, and the views of the Trump Administration on many U.S.-Africa policy issues remain unspecified. The Obama Administration's 'Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa' identified its policy priorities as strengthening democratic institutions; spurring economic growth, trade, and investment; advancing peace and security; and promoting opportunity and development. Analysts continue to debate whether that Strategy reflected an appropriate mix and ranking of priorities, as well as the degree to which the Obama Administration's actions reflected its stated goals."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cook, Nicolas; Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch . . .
2017-03-21
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Lord's Resistance Army: The U.S. Response [September 28, 2015]
From the report summary: "The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), led by Joseph Kony, is a small, dispersed armed group active in remote areas of Central Africa. The LRA's infliction of widespread human suffering and its potential threat to regional stability have drawn significant attention in recent years, including in Congress. Campaigns by U.S.-based advocacy groups have contributed to policy makers' interest. [...]The U.S. approach to the LRA raises a number of policy issues, some of which have implications far beyond Central Africa. Some observers view the U.S. response to the LRA as a possible model for addressing mass atrocities, and decisions on this issue could potentially be viewed as a precedent for U.S. responses to similar situations in the future. At the same time, a key question for some is whether the response is commensurate with the degree to which the LRA impacts U.S. national interests. Other potential issues for Congress include funding levels for counter-LRA efforts; the prospects and benchmarks for 'success' and the withdrawal of U.S. forces; and the relative priority of counter-LRA activities compared to other foreign policy and budgetary goals. Possible policy challenges include regional militaries' capacity and will to conduct U.S.-supported operations and these militaries' relative level of respect for human rights. President Obama has waived in part the application of the Child Soldiers Protection Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-457) to facilitate the participation of troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan in counter-LRA operations. The FY2015 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 113-235) and National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 113-291), and other recent authorization and appropriations measures, include relevant provisions. See also CRS Report R43377, 'Crisis in the Central African Republic'."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Husted, Tomas F.
2015-09-28
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Lord's Resistance Army: The U.S. Response [September 28, 2015]
From the Summary: "The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), led by Joseph Kony, is a small, dispersed armed group active in remote areas of Central Africa. The LRA's infliction of widespread human suffering and its potential threat to regional stability have drawn significant attention in recent years, including in Congress. Campaigns by U.S.-based advocacy groups have contributed to policy makers' interest. […] The U.S. approach to the LRA raises a number of policy issues, some of which have implications far beyond Central Africa. Some observers view the U.S. response to the LRA as a possible model for addressing mass atrocities, and decisions on this issue could potentially be viewed as a precedent for U.S. responses to similar situations in the future. At the same time, a key question for some is whether the response is commensurate with the degree to which the LRA impacts U.S. national interests. Other potential issues for Congress include funding levels for counter-LRA efforts; the prospects and benchmarks for 'success' and the withdrawal of U.S. forces; and the relative priority of counter-LRA activities compared to other foreign policy and budgetary goals. Possible policy challenges include regional militaries' capacity and will to conduct U.S.-supported operations and these militaries' relative level of respect for human rights. President Obama has waived in part the application of the Child Soldiers Protection Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-457) to facilitate the participation of troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan in counter-LRA operations. The FY2015 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 113-235) and National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 113-291), and other recent authorization and appropriations measures, include relevant provisions. See also CRS Report R43377, 'Crisis in the Central African Republic'."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Husted, Tomas F.
2015-09-28
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Crisis in the Central African Republic [August 17, 2015]
"This report provides background on the evolving political, security, and humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR), a landlocked, sparsely inhabited, and extremely under-developed country. Violence in CAR since 2013 has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and placed strains on global humanitarian and peacekeeping resources. U.S. responses include: [1] humanitarian assistance; [2]diplomatic and financial support for a U.N. peacekeeping operation, MINUSCA; [3] additional bilateral support for African peacekeepers and French troops that have deployed to CAR; [4] foreign aid for conflict mitigation and peacebuilding activities; [5] public diplomacy initiatives; and [6] an Executive Order authorizing targeted sanctions. Possible issues for Congress include the authorization, appropriation, and oversight of U.S. humanitarian assistance and contributions to international stabilization efforts. The crisis in CAR also has implications for several broader issues of potential interest to Congress, including: [1] stability in the surrounding region; [2] the prevention of 'mass atrocities'; [3] U.S. efforts to counter the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a small but brutal militia active in CAR and neighboring states; and [4] the impact of the conflict in CAR on wildlife poaching and other cross-border criminal activity in the region. Congress has monitored the crisis in CAR and the U.S. response, including related fiscal implications. The 113th Congress held hearings on CAR before the Africa subcommittees of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (November 2013 and April 2014) and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (December 2013). The FY2015 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act (P.L. 113-235) states that 'funds made available by this Act for [CAR] shall be made available for reconciliation and peacebuilding programs.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis; Husted, Tomas F.
2015-08-17
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African Union (AU): Key Issues and U.S.-AU Relations [December 16, 2016]
"The AU [African Union] was established in 2002 as the successor to the now-defunct Organization of African Unity (OAU). The aim of the AU is to promote continental economic integration and socioeconomic development through shared political and economic institutions and the planned creation of a common African market. Other key AU goals include greater political and economic unity, peace and security, and stability within Africa; advocacy of common African positions in international forums; strengthened democratic governance and rule of law; respect for human rights; and gender equality and social justice, among others. The current AUC [African Union Commission] chair is Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma of South Africa. Her priorities have centered on conflict resolution, support for transitional aid in post-conflict countries, AU monitoring of African elections, and efforts to boost economic growth and increase AU finance resources, among other goals."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cook, Nicolas; Husted, Tomas F.
2016-12-16
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Crisis in the Central African Republic [April 5, 2019]
From the Document: "Congress has held hearings, appropriated aid funds, and conducted oversight in response to the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR), which has experienced state collapse and conflict since a rebel movement known as the Seleka seized control of the government in 2013. Despite a post-rebellion political transition culminating in the 2016 inauguration of a new president, Faustin Archange Touadera (a former Prime Minister who ran as an independent), security and humanitarian conditions have deteriorated. The European Union (EU), U.N., Russia, and the United States are providing support to the national military (the FACA), but state security forces remain weak and dogged by a history of abuses and militia infiltration. Competitions over mineral resources, cattle migration routes, and trade have been key drivers of conflict."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Husted, Tomas F.; Arieff, Alexis
2019-04-05
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The Gambia [Updated June 10, 2019]
From the Document: "The Gambia ('Gambia') is a small West African country almost entirely surrounded by Senegal. It underwent a historic transition of power after longtime authoritarian leader Yahya Jammeh unexpectedly lost an election in December 2016. A brief political crisis over Jammeh's refusal to step down was resolved when a regional military intervention forced Jammeh into exile, enabling President-elect Adama Barrow to take office. Barrow's inauguration in early 2017 furthered a trend in which West African heads of state are increasingly chosen through elections. A political newcomer who once worked as a security guard in London, President Barrow has overseen a broad increase in political freedom and improved relations with the international community. Analysts warn that Gambia's progress remains fragile, however. Efforts to advance governance reforms and prosecute abuses committed under the former regime have been slow to advance and could stoke tensions, particularly within the security forces."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Husted, Tomas F.; Arieff, Alexis
2019-06-10
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African Elections in 2020 [Updated February 14, 2020]
This report from the Congressional Research Service provides election snapshots for individual nations in Africa in 2020.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Collins, Sarah R.; Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch . . .
2020-02-14
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Cameroon [Updated March 12, 2019]
From the Document: "Cameroon is a diverse, resource-rich, majority Francophone country bordering the Gulf of Guinea. President Paul Biya, age 86, is one of Africa's longest-serving leaders. He was reelected in 2018 and has no clear successor. Cameroon faces security and humanitarian challenges on three fronts: the Nigerian-origin Boko Haram insurgency in the north, a separatist conflict in the Anglophone provinces in the west, and cross-border threats from the Central African Republic (CAR) in the east, where some 275,000 CAR refugees reside. The state's militarized response to Anglophone unrest has inflamed that conflict, while an early 2019 crackdown on Biya's top Francophone political rival may spark a broader crisis. Cameroon also faces wildlife poaching and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Husted, Tomas F.; Arieff, Alexis
2019-03-12
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Cabo Verde: Background and U.S. Relations [February 6, 2017]
"Cabo Verde, a small island nation of just over half a million people located off the west coast of Africa, is of strategic significance to the United States because its geographic location has made the country a transshipment point for Latin American cocaine bound for Europe and a key refueling stop-over for trans-Atlantic air traffic between Africa and the United States. The country is also a long-standing U.S. ally in Africa that the State Department has cited as a model of democratic governance in the region since its transition from single party rule to a multi-party political system in 1991. U.S. bilateral aid to Cabo Verde is limited, and centers on military professionalization, counternarcotics efforts, and development projects supported by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cook, Nicolas; Husted, Tomas F.
2017-02-06
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Liberia: Background and U.S. Relations [February 14, 2020]
From the Document: "Congress has shown enduring interest in Liberia, a small coastal West African country of about 4.8 million people. The United States played a key role in the country's founding, and bilateral ties generally have remained close despite significant strains during Liberia's two civil wars (1989-1997 and 1999-2003). Congress has appropriated considerable foreign assistance for Liberia, and has held hearings on the country's postwar trajectory and development. In recent years, congressional interest partly has centered on the immigration status of over 80,000 Liberian nationals resident in the United States. Liberia participates in the House Democracy Partnership, a U.S. House of Representatives legislative-strengthening initiative that revolves around peer-to-peer engagement."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Husted, Tomas F.
2020-02-14
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Central African Republic: Background and U.S. Policy [December 1, 2016]
"The Central African Republic (CAR) is emerging from a crisis that began when rebels overthrew the national government in 2013, ushering in a chaotic and violent period. A new president, Faustin Archange Touadéra, was elected in 2016, but gains remain fragile. Militias that have targeted civilians on the basis of religious and ethnic identity continue to operate in much of the country, posing challenges to governance, reconciliation, and accountability. Violence has caused large population displacements, weakening an already tiny economy and placing strains on finite international aid and peacekeeping resources."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis; Husted, Tomas F.
2016-12-01
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Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Impact in Africa [Updated May 11, 2020]
From the Document: "As Congress considers the global impact of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], some Members may examine the implications for sub-Saharan Africa ('Africa'). Most African health systems struggle with low capacity, trailing world averages in per capita numbers of doctors, hospital beds, ventilators, and oxygen cylinders. Although lessons from past disease outbreaks (e.g., recent Ebola outbreaks) led some countries to quickly ramp up disease surveillance and behavior change campaigns, overall state capacity tends to be low. Confirmed caseloads in Africa have been relatively low to date, but may be underreported. The pandemic has disrupted efforts to prevent and contain other diseases, including polio, measles, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. [...] African economies have been severely affected. Global prices for key commodity exports (e.g., oil, natural gas, and certain minerals) have cratered. Job-rich sectors such as transportation and tourism are largely suspended, and remittances from African workers abroad have withered. Informal workers have lost meager incomes due to COVID-19 control measures, and prices for basic goods have risen. In April, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected that African economies would contract by 1.6% overall in 2020, the most severe regional recession in decades. The World Bank estimated that 23 million more Africans could fall into extreme poverty due to the pandemic."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch; Cook, Nicolas . . .
2020-05-11
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African Elections in 2020 [Updated April 27, 2020]
From the Document: "At the start of the year, 21 African countries were slated to hold presidential and/or parliamentary polls in 2020. Scheduled election dates are listed below. Some may be subject to change due to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic or other factors."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Collins, Sarah R.; Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch . . .
2020-04-27
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Fostering Behavior Change During Disease Outbreaks: Insights from Ebola Response in Africa [March 27, 2020]
From the Document: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease] pandemic has prompted governments worldwide to seek to change behaviors on a mass scale to stem new infections. [...] The challenges and successes of analogous efforts during the two largest Ebola outbreaks to date--in West Africa (2014-2016), and in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), starting in 2018 and now seemingly waning--may offer lessons for current efforts to contain COVID-19, even though the two viruses differ in significant ways."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Arieff, Alexis; Husted, Tomas F.; Cook, Nicolas
2020-03-27
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U.S. Assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa: An Overview [May 20, 2020]
From the Overview: "Congress authorizes, appropriates, and oversees U.S. assistance to sub-Saharan Africa ('Africa'), which received over a quarter of U.S. aid obligated in FY2018. Annual State Department- and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-administered assistance to Africa increased more than five-fold over the past two decades, primarily due to sizable increases in global health spending and more incremental growth in economic and security assistance. State Department and USAID-administered assistance allocated to African countries from FY2019 appropriations totaled roughly $7.1 billion. This does not include considerable U.S. assistance provided to Africa via global accounts, such as emergency humanitarian aid and certain kinds of development, security, and health aid. The United States channels additional funds to Africa through multilateral bodies, such as the United Nations and World Bank."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Husted, Tomas F.; Arieff, Alexis; Blanchard, Lauren Ploch . . .
2020-05-20
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Global Democracy and Human Rights Impacts of COVID-19: In Brief [June 26, 2020]
From the Introduction: "As governments worldwide administer lockdowns, travel limitations, and other restrictions to respond to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, some experts have warned of a 'parallel epidemic' of government repression. Proponents of this view maintain that some governments are using the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext to consolidate political power undemocratically or impose undue restrictions on the exercise of civil and political rights. Meanwhile, even when restrictions may be justified on the basis of public health, the manner of application and enforcement of these measures may raise human rights concerns in some cases. Some Members of Congress have expressed alarm over the implications of COVID-19 for democracy and human rights trends, as evidenced by statements and legislation introduced to date. At the same time, COVID-19's ramifications in this area are diverse and evolving. This In Brief report discusses key democracy and human rights concerns raised by experts and advocates, includes brief country case studies, and discusses potential congressional policy responses. Although some issues discussed herein may be relevant to domestic debates in the United States, this report focuses on democracy and human rights issues internationally and in relation to U.S. foreign policy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Weber, Michael A.; Blackwood, Maria A.; Husted, Tomas F. . . .
2020-06-26
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