When the U.S. Congress broke for the July 4th recess, some members headed for a town hall meeting. Familiar topics — schools, infrastructure, disabled people's rights — were on the agenda, but this meeting took place far from their home districts. The setting was the Liberian village of Kakata, where eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives were there to take it all in.

Institute Also Working with Candidates, Political Parties, Polling Agents and Domestic Monitors

NDI has announced its international observation mission for the Sept. 18 elections for Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of the National Assembly.

The Institute is mobilizing more than 140 international and Afghan observers who will monitor every aspect of the election process, including the campaign, balloting on election day and the counting of ballots. The delegation will issue a preliminary statement in the days following the election.

Despite recent violence and significant challenges ahead, Kyrgyzstan has made progress on democratic reforms, NDI Vice Chair and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle concluded following a recent trip to that country.

In Yemen, tribal conflict is a backdrop affecting the country's economic development, governance and national stability. Disputes over land claims and competition for resources and government services often lead to violence and cycles of revenge killings that can extend over a decade, hindering the work of government and international development agencies, and isolating citizens from the state.