In Peru, protestors against deforestation and illegal mining face “pervasive violence” that claimed the lives of at least two Indigenous Kakataibo leaders, while in Kenya at least 60 unarmed demonstrators against economic hardship were killed in a “brutal” crackdown and suspected supporters are still being hunted down.
In Burkina Faso, Bassirou Badjo and Rasmané Zinaba were among democracy activists allegedly snatched and unlawfully conscripted to fight Islamist armed groups. Even in the once-famously liberal Netherlands protestors were met with batons, pepper spray, police dogs, and bulldozers, with thousands arrested.
The allegations against the four countries place them among nine where civil society groups and journalists faced worsening repression over the past year, according to a detailed study by the CIVICUS global alliance for citizen action. Their ratings were downgraded in the organization’s annual monitoring report.
About the author
Rob Merrick
Rob Merrick is the U.K. Correspondent for Devex, covering FCDO and British aid. He reported on all the key events in British politics of the past 25 years from Westminster, including the financial crash, the Brexit fallout, the "Partygate" scandal, and the departures of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Rob has worked for The Independent and the Press Association and is a regular commentator on TV and radio. He can be reached at rob.merrick@devex.com.