Imagine waking up in a country that is finally beginning to feel the first quiet stirrings of democratic renewal. South Sudan is preparing for elections on December 22, and for many citizens this is a moment of profound meaning—a chance to shape the future after years of pain, displacement, and uncertainty. Recently, the first batch of voter registration materials was formally handed over to the Central Equatoria State High Elections Committee, a procedural step that signals progress. But civil society activist Edmund Yakani sees something else moving alongside the official paperwork: a dangerous fog of incomplete information, unverified claims, and…

It was early November, and the crisp autumn air over Duplin County felt charged with something more than the usual Carolina humidity. In the small, close-knit towns of Kenansville, Warsaw, and Beulaville, the chatter wasn’t just about the weather or the coming holidays—it was about the sheriff’s race, a contest that had tightened nerves and sharpened tongues. When the final votes were tallied, Eric Southerland emerged as the winner, elected as the county’s next sheriff. For many residents, the outcome was a breath of relief; for others, a moment of quiet anxiety. But for Southerland himself, it was the beginning…