How Swaziland’s Governance Model and AIDS Crisis Intersect

The Open Society Institute and the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Africa Program hosted a briefing on recent developments in Swaziland. Panelists discussed a wide range of social and economic challenges facing Swaziland, namely its economic growth, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, and the government’s  handling of opposition parties. Advocates of democratization insist that Swaziland’s current model of governance is impeding the possibility of recovery and reform. How can the international community tackle Swaziland's crisis, and what should the United States do to help?

The panel featured:

• Akwe Amosu, Africa Policy Analyst for the Open Society Institute
• Muzi Masuku, Swaziland Program Manager, Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA)
• Ted Piccone, Executive Director, Democracy Coalition Project
• Joseph Siegle, Senior Director for Democratic Governance, Development Alternatives, Inc.

An event summary and video is available on the Wilson Center website at www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1417&fuseaction=topics.event_summary
&event_id=209843.