What is the state of democracy on continental Africa today? | Inside Story

At least 16 African nations have held elections this year.
But there have been almost as many debates as to whether democracy is actually disappearing across the continent.
A number of leaders continue to hold an iron grip on power. Many are accused of repressing the opposition and amending laws to extend their rule.
So how do you define democracy in Africa?

Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom

Guests:

Somadoda Fikeni, Honorary Visiting Professor at the University of South Africa
Agnes Gitau, Managing Partner at advisory firm GBS Africa
Kwesi Aning, Director of Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.

#AlJazeeraEnglish #InsideStory #Africa

[fourthright]

Same in asia bro. Very few country can be called democracy too

[laminkanyi]

Did you have democracy in your own country

[briantole]

Is Africa a country or is the failing Al-Jazeera network trying to stereotype problems in an entire continent

[sihlecharlienxumalo]

When corruption is institutionalized, its going to take years to correct that. We need strong leaders who do not bow down to the dollar!

[benlawrence]

The political system of Qatar is a de-facto absolute monarchy with the Emir of Qatar as head of state and head of government. Under the 2003 constitutional referendum it should be a constitutional monarchy with an elected legislature, although elections have been consistently pushed back since 2013. From wiki

[douyin]

before the topic, let's ask a question first. can democracy bring African people a wealthy n peaceful life? If not or not sure, then why democracy?

[imnackeredsirnackered]

I think European countries carving up Africa was a bad idea but in the end what's done is done. I think what needs to be done now is African countries need to unite the tribes under a common ethnic group and try to integrate them.

[tuntejaable]

Really liked what she said. Need to go our own way.

[clementgavi]

I would reply to Mr Somadoda Fikeni who said 'Over concentration on election instead of structural issues isn't a sustainable way of deepening democracy' that it is a false induction to condemn a principle because we observe its consequences where the principle has nothing to do with.

The question is Can Africa be democratic?

To answer this question it is necessary to define democracy and to specify its conditions of possibility. In this perspective, if democracy can be understood as a wanting to be that becomes habit, that is to say, which becomes culture, then we must practice. that is to say, take charge of democratic principles to make them practical realities. In this perspective, we need a political will and a discipline of this will.

If as he said there are two trends one with countries where things seem to right and the other with countries experiencing crisis, the main reason is rooted in political will and the discipline of that will.

Elections are elements of democracy, they are contents of democracy, they describe democracy. Therefore they can be use to appreciate the effectiveness of a democracy.
By saying 'Over concentration on election instead of structural issues isn't a sustainable way of deepening democracy'' becomes the affirmation that elections have no informational contents as regards structural issues. When people vote they signify, they say something.

[MaxSnowDude]

I hope the new president of Tanzania will be less autocratic than Magafuli

[Zenith-ndmf]

The state of democracy on continental Africa today is extantly Western and handicapped owing to its colonial legacy, exacerbated by the defunct New Public Management impositions.

[amikanttigga]

How do you define democracy in 🇶🇦 Qatar. Let's debate in comment section. This is inside story.

[sinjhguddu]

Until Africa is bold and honest enough to have one Pan-African body to hold and oversee elections in each member-country, there will be no democracy nor viable long-lasting peace on the continent. This is because politics in Africa generally follows tribal affiliations and ethnicities. And politicians greedily exploit these divisions for their own benefit. Linked to the need for a Pan-African Election body is also the necessity to have a continental judiciary that would appoint judges of high courts in each member country to ensure an equitable judicial system in all states. But this is wishful thinking...

[godfreyasiimwe]

Go to Uganda and you will know that Democracy has died a long time ago. Youth can not change anything because people in power has money and Guns.

[nanayeboahboafo]

There has been no post election violence in Ghana. The 5 deaths were isolated cases which happened on election day, Ahmed Idris reported this on 8th December. Shame On You Aljazeera, from a 24-hour viewer of your service both online and on TV, I must say I'm very disappointed by that statement.

The main opposition party has rejected the results and are preparing to go to court soon but that what makes us a democracy.

[qlezkhk]

Somaliland has been a democratic self governing country that has succeeded maintaining national security of its territory as well as the territorial waters on the Red Sea and the gateway to Bab El Mendeb. Balancing national development and security in one of the most hostile regions in the world and still maintaining a democracy that continues to be challenged. Not a single piracy incident has happened in the territorial waters of Somaliland since 2016, not a single terrorist attack has happened in Somaliland since 2008 and peaceful transfer of power has been the example Somaliland has set for the countries in the region and beyond. The world continues to look the other way by ignoring those who put everything they have into security and prosperity into the Horn of Africa and rewarding those that defraud and misuse public funds and offices at the highest level for private development.

When will the right to self determination of the people of Somaliland be respected as per article 1 of the United Nations charter and as per article 20 of the African Union charter? How many more does it take to realise that Somalilanders will continue to develop themselves with the very little they have and seek to continue asking for their fundamental human rights?

[dchacha]

Is the story on how do you define democracy in africa or can Africa be democratic!
The first one is more important, as democracy was brought by white people of whom themselves are still defining it themselves.

So keep your democracy we will define our own, i do though not support violence nor killing.

[trappist-e]

For the love of God stop saying "Africa" as if we are one people or one culture one or share the same problem

[ktm]

Couple months ago France imperialism sold navy ships to the Niger regime to exchange and to allow France minerals rights in his country eventhough Niger is landlocked country.🤣

[muslimabubakar]

We Africa unfortunately are as bad as USA 2020