U.S. President Joe Biden recently stirred controversy by stating that al-Qaida no longer has a presence in Afghanistan—thanks, he suggested, to the Taliban. The Taliban predictably applauded his statement, but others pointed out that it contradicted recent U.N. reports. How are we to make sense of these conflicting characterizations?
Upon taking office in 2020, Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye reversed some of his predecessor’s repressive measures, raising hopes that he might deliver on his promised reform agenda. But recent developments have renewed concerns that Ndayishimiye’s initial overtures would not materialize into substantive policy reforms.
Mexico has had a surprisingly good year, with a promising outlook ahead that contrasts starkly with many of its peers, both in Latin America and around the world. But Mexico is no stranger to being in the economic spotlight, raising questions about whether this so-called Mexican Moment is poised to last longer than just a moment.
