While young people under 25 comprise approximately two-thirds of Rwanda’s population, historically they have lacked meaningful opportunities to engage in politics. An older elite has traditionally made the country’s political decisions, and during the 1994 genocide, political leaders mobilized disaffected youth for violent ends. But today, many young Rwandans hope to channel their untapped power into productive and peaceful political expression.

NDI today strongly condemned the ongoing use of violence by Yemeni security forces against protestors throughout the country and called upon the Yemeni government to cease the attacks immediately. 

The Institute is extremely concerned by today’s live fire attack against protestors at Sana’a University by security forces and government loyalists that left at least 40 dead and hundreds wounded.  NDI is also concerned about the potential for violence to escalate further.

NDI urged the two candidates competing in Haiti’s second round presidential election Sunday to abide by the terms of a code of conduct they both signed that commits them to respect election laws, reject violence, and abide by the results of the electoral process.

During his most recent visit to Washington, D.C., Mexican President Felipe Calderon said that Mexico is “undergoing a profound transformation, built on the principles and values of democracy.”  Among these principles and values, he underscored the importance of “an active civil society that not only exercises its rights and freedoms, but also holds the authorities to account.”