User:Aobessette/Choose an Article

Article Selection
Please list articles that you're considering for your Wikipedia assignment below. Begin to critique these articles and find relevant sources.

Option 1
Blaise Compaoré

The lead is very concise and informative, the only piece of information I can think of that it might benefit from including is how Compaore aided in the coup which placed Thomas Sankara in power. The article has decent coverage of the political turmoil of the late 20th century, but could be improved a great deal with more information about Blaise Compaore himself. Although there is a section about his political views, its very short and not informative, and there are a couple content gaps. In addition coups and elections need more detail and there should be connections made to the international stage, including Compaore's relationship with France. The tone is neutral but due to the minimal depth reached there is only one point of view covered. The organization is also a little odd due to the content gaps and off balance focus on the 21st century and elections. Instead of solely focusing on the elections and coups Compaores political positions and accomplishments deserve more coverage. The talk page is filled with opinions about Compaore agreeing that the article goes soft on him, and that the "neutral tone" fails to provide proper coverage of the "demagogue." Overall, the article requires more information, sources, and fleshing out, in order to move from a start class article to a c class article.



Option 3
2020 Togolese presidential election

This article is little more than a stub with a concise 2 sentence long lead, and 3 sections total. The article misses the opportunity to connect the election to international circumstances and link it to recent protests and widespread discontent with the results: 53 years of the Gnassingbe regime. In addition there have been many reports written by international watch dogs condemning and supporting the results, and I think both these sides need coverage, as this election was a lot more impact full than the article makes it seem. The tone is fairly passive, but the neutrality only serves to ignore the fairly widespread allegations of election fraud and lacking civil rights. As the article lacks sources it also lacks information and important takes and results of the election, but because it happened recently nothing has been discussed on the talk page. Overall the article requires many more sources and details of the election and its impact.

Sources:

https://africacenter.org/spotlight/togo-implausible-election-results/

https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/africa/2020-03-31-togo-suspends-third-opposition-friendly-media/

https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/03/17/west-african-leaders-are-rolling-back-democratic-gains/

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/togo-election-main-observer-group-barred-monitoring-200219182924051.html

https://ghananewsagency.org/politics/togo-national-assembly-summons-opposition-leader-accuses-him-of-plotting-coup-165365

ECOWAS Observation of Election ( https://www.ecowas.int/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/PRELIMINARY-DECLARATION-ENG_1.pdf )

The Media and the 2020 Elections in Togo - Growing Censorship, Fear of Possible Social Media Ban ( https://www.mfwa.org/media-and-the-2020-election-in-togo-growing-censorship-fear-of-possible-social-media-ban/ )

Opposition Calls for Protests Against Election Results ( http://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20200226-togo-opposition-calls-protests-against-election-results )

Confusion in Togo As Military Men Hold Leading Candidate Hostage ( https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/02/confusion-in-togo-as-military-men-hold-leading-candidate-hostage/ )

CPJ joins letter calling on Togo government not to shut down internet ( https://cpj.org/blog/2020/02/cpj-joins-letter-calling-on-togo-government-not-to.php, the letter: https://www.accessnow.org/cms/assets/uploads/2020/02/Togo-Election-KIO-Letter-Feb.-2020.pdf )