Democracy Tracker
The Democracy Tracker provides event-centric, monthly information on democracy and human rights developments in 173 countries. Event reports describe a change to the status-quo of the state of democracy at the country level. They include a description of the event, indications of the specific aspects of democracy that have been impacted, the magnitude of the impact, links to original sources and keywords to enable further research. Click on the country hexagons below to read the most recent developments, or hover over to the country profiles menu at the top to access the full data and analysis of a specific country.
Positive and Negative Events in April 2025
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
Central African Republic
Colombia
France
Gabon
India
Indonesia
Lebanon
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Niger
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Republic of Korea
Somalia
Spain
Sri Lanka
Armenia
Belarus
Benin
Côte d'Ivoire
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dominican Republic
Hungary
Iran
Jordan
Libya
Malta
Slovakia
Tunisia
United States of America
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Georgia
*Assessments are relative to each country and do not represent comparisons or rankings between countries.
May 2022
Malaysia
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Critical Events To Watch in April 2025
Asia and the Pacific • Sri Lanka
On 8 April, Sri Lanka’s parliament approved the long-awaited Proceeds of Crime Act, aimed at recovering stolen assets for public benefit. The law introduces processes for identifying, freezing and seizing illicit assets, even for those without criminal convictions. While allowing for the prosecution of high-profile politicians from previous administrations, the law’s primary focus is on asset recovery rather than prosecution. Transparency experts praised the bill as a significant step in the country’s anti-corruption efforts, filling a legal gap and empowering authorities to target illicit enrichment, bribery, and money laundering. Legal experts also stressed the importance of judicial oversight, safeguards and whistleblower protections in ensuring the Act’s effective implementation. Initially proposed years ago but delayed for political reasons, the bill’s drafting process also exposed the need for public consultation in the early stages of future lawmaking processes
Americas • Colombia
On 5 April, the armed group known as Comuneros del Sur—a dissident faction that split from the National Liberation Army (ELN) in 2024—began the process of laying down arms as a first step toward demobilization. Nearly 600 units of explosive material were handed over to the National Army, which destroyed them. Although the group is small, the beginning of disarmament is seen as key for the peace efforts in the Nariño region, which has been deeply affected by the armed conflict. The event marks an initial step in a longer process, with further agreements still needed—particularly regarding legal mechanisms to ensure victims' rights to truth and justice. During a meeting with representatives of Comuneros del Sur, President Petro announced investments in the region to support the peace process, including improvements in access to basic services, the beginning of demining operations, and the creation of a unit—partly made up of ex-combatants—to help locate victims of forced disappearance.
Africa • Mali
On 13 May, Mali’s junta formally dissolved all political parties and associations through a decree read on national television. The move comes two weeks after a government-organised national consultation recommended appointing transitional leader Gen. Assimi Goïta as president for a renewable five-year term and dismantling multiparty democracy. The consultation, boycotted by nearly all political parties, was denounced as a sham process aimed at consolidating military rule. On 30 April, the junta repealed the charter governing political parties, in what legal experts said was a precursor to their full dissolution. Delegates from the consultation also recommended suspending all election planning until the country is ‘pacified’, asserting that the current leaders need more time to govern. In the build-up to the national consultation, around 100 political parties formed a coalition to confront what they anticipated as the junta's intention to dissolve them. In a rare public statement on 26 April, the coalition accused the authorities of seeking to eliminate political pluralism.
Europe • Georgia
Parliament passed several laws restricting civil society and media on 1 April, including a so-called “foreign agents” law (FARA) imposing sweeping registration requirements and sanctions on independent organisations and media outlets. The law tightens regulation on broadcasters and revokes a requirement to involve civil society in the legislative process. On 17 April it passed a law mandating prior permission from the Georgian Anti-Corruption Bureau to receive a grant from any foreign donor. The Georgian FARA law requires any organisation or individual deemed to be acting at the direction of a foreign power, including receiving a grant, to register with the government or face up to five years’ imprisonment. Broadcasters are now subject to stricter state ‘coverage standards’ and banned from foreign funding, which journalists say amounts to state control and censorship. The law on civil society participation was justified by what Georgian Dream lawmakers called the ‘anti-democratic’ actions of NGOs.
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Democracy Notes & Commentary
Intervju med Ahmed Abdirahman om politiskt deltagande bland olika befolkningsgrupper i Sverige
May 22, 2025
Q&A: Ahmed Abdirahman on the political participation of ethnic minority Swedes
May 22, 2025
Q&A: Sanaa Alsarghali on the future of Palestinian internal governance
May 21, 2025
Monthly Event Reports
See all the information related to countries that have updates this month.
Africa
NER
GIN
GHA
CIV
BEN
SOM
ZMB
ZWE
TUN
LBY
GAB
COD
CAF
ZAF
MDG
DZA
AGO
BWA
BFA
BDI
CMR
TCD
COM
CPV
DJI
EGY
GNQ
ERI
ETH
GMB
SWZ
GNB
KEN
LSO
LBR
MWI
MLI
MRT
MUS
MAR
MOZ
NAM
NGA
COG
RWA
SEN
SLE
SSD
SDN
TZA
TGO
UGA
Americas
PER
USA
CAN
DOM
TTO
ARG
BRA
COL
MEX
HTI
BRB
BOL
CHL
CRI
CUB
ECU
SLV
GTM
GUY
HND
JAM
NIC
PAN
PRY
SUR
URY
VEN
Asia and the Pacific
KOR
VUT
IND
LKA
MDV
IDN
PHL
TWN
MYS
MMR
TLS
AFG
JPN
AUS
BGD
BTN
KHM
CHN
PRK
FJI
KAZ
KGZ
LAO
MNG
NPL
NZL
PAK
PNG
SGP
SLB
TJK
THA
TKM
UZB
VNM
Europe
POL
HUN
LTU
SVK
ARM
GEO
BLR
FRA
MLT
ESP
LUX
UKR
GBR
KSV
TUR
CHE
ALB
AUT
AZE
BEL
BIH
BGR
HRV
CYP
CZE
DNK
EST
FIN
DEU
GRC
ISL
IRL
ITA
LVA
MDA
MNE
NLD
MKD
NOR
PRT
ROU
RUS
SRB
SVN
SWE
Western Asia
LBN
JOR
IRN
IRQ
BHR
ISR
KWT
OMN
PSE
QAT
SAU
SYR
ARE
YEM
May 2022
Malaysia
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