Wednesday, 24 May 2023

12pm Washington D.C.
5pm London / Lagos / Kinshasa
6pm Paris / Cape Town / Cairo
7pm Nairobi

During the course of three consecutive days in January, a trio of Africa’s brightest lights for freedom and accountability were extinguished. In just 72 hours, three of the continent’s most intrepid and well-respected leaders had been silenced. The brazen killings of Thulani Maseko in eSwatini (Swaziland), John Williams Ntwali (Rwanda), and Martinez Zogo (Cameroon) sent shockwaves across the human rights community and led to high-level denunciations from many democratic governments worldwide.

As many feared, however, the initial outpouring of concern, the expressions of shock, and the vocal calls for accountability have subsided. In all three contexts – notable for their long autocratic rule – the human rights situation remains dire, and the hopes for reform are dim. This return to ‘business as usual’ is equally dismaying and entirely predictable. With deafening silence from African leaders – and democratic powers outside of the continent sitting on their hands – these deaths will not be the last. As we know: every unchallenged assassination further emboldens the use of violence, putting more vulnerable human rights defenders at risk.

What can be done to challenge impunity in these circumstances and to hold authoritarian leaders – their hit squads and armed enforcers – accountable for their actions? We often encourage human rights defenders like Thulani, Ntwali, and Martinez to be heroes, to literally put their lives on the line to advance social change. Yet, we just as often fail to have their backs when they are inevitably pressed against the wall by their abusers in power.

This show will convene survivors and advocates to discuss these critical issues, along the way identifying solutions to stop the contagion of targeted attacks while reinforcing the solidarity that is needed for their respective missions. Please join us on May 24 for a tribute to those we have lost and to help provide a sense of hope to those who have picked up the baton.

Meet our speakers

Moderation