African elections

Half a century ago European colonial powers started to cede control over their African colonies opening the door for independence. This move towards black majority rule was applauded by the US and the international community. However, this change didn't quite work out as planned as all that happened was that white minority rule was replaced by black minority rule.

It is a fact that in these 50 years since independence swept over the African continent, only on FOURTEEN occasions have ruling parties failed to get re-elected in presidential/leadership elections in the 48 countries which comprise the land mass of Africa.

Elections in Africa then are usually nothing short of a farce as governing parties are singularly adept at holding on to power through a combination of harassment of the opposition, vote buying and ballot rigging. The former president of the Republic of Congo, Pascal Lissouba, has publicly admitted such and is on record as saying 'one does not organise elections to end up on the losing side.' Tanzanian Foreign Minister, Benjamin Memba, has also publicly admitted to this sham when he stated recently that 'in Africa, when it comes to elections, irregularities and errors are a given.'

Little wonder, then, that ruling parties are perpetuated in power no matter how poorly they govern for there is nothing to prevent them doing so. Certainly not the African Union, whose own constitution even espouses democracy and free elections, as it is controlled by all the heads of African governments. And certainly not Western governments who, although they preach to their African counterparts about the need for free and fair elections and are even happy to finance them, rarely take governments to task for the way they cling on to power. And certainly not the United Nations whose 193 members, the latest being South Sudan, may have signed the UN Declaration of Human Rights but which all too many prefer to ignore. As a result, in Africa, as many changes of government occur through military coups e.g. in 2009 in Madagascar, Guinea and in 2010 in Niger, as through the ballot box.

It is this unchallenged rule and the lack of censure from within or without which is the principal factor as to why, today, Africa is the home of many of the world's longest serving dictators, some of whom have been in power for more than 30 years - Jose dos Santos in Angola and Obiang Nguema in Equatorial Guinea since 1979, Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe since 1980, and Paul Biya in Cameroon since 1982.

Now this longevity of rule would not matter so much if these governments were actually seeking to improve the lives of their people by laying the foundations for economic growth, good governance, social welfare and human rights. However, the majority of regimes in the world's poorest continent, by far, are more concerned with looking after the interests of their families and friends, amassing personal fortunes and selling off the country's natural resources to the highest bidder. No wonder then that the majority of Africans today are still subsistence farmers scratching a living from the soil as they have done since biblical times.

In some countries, though, a few green shoots of democracy have started to appear and ruling parties have failed to hold on to power. But this has only happened in smaller countries like Ghana, Sierra Leone, Benin, Mali and Zambia. And with freely elected governments in only 5 out of 49 nations after a period of half a century, the holding of these elections only seeks to give legitimacy to one party rule and is surely a waste of everyone's time, effort and money. For until economic progress leads to a strong middle class in each country, for the West to continue to support fatuous elections in most of Africa is just 'democrazy'. The West would be far better off encouraging better governance in all developing countries through the targeting overseas aid and practical support at the countries with progressive leadership.

Nevertheless, although there will be little chance of change, for record purposes, just1WORLD will produce a yearly timetable of forthcoming presidential elections in African nations. As each country's election draws closer we shall show what happened in the previous presidential election and present the main opposition candidates/ parties in the contest about to be fought. After the election we shall give the result and report the findings of the international election observers which will undoubtedly be along the lines of that, although there were a few hiccups, the election result itself cannot be contested.

(In Africa, people are allowed to vote at 18 in all countries except in Cameroon, Central African Republic and Gabon where the voting age is 21. However, in Sudan the voting age is 17)

NEXT ELECTION

February 26 - Senegal - the constitution states that Abdoulaye Wade who is 85 should step down after 2 terms, one of seven years and one of five, but Wade is determined to seek another mandate of seven years. And, not surprisingly, the country's top court has just ruled that Wade is entitled to run for a third term. Despite widespread protests by opponents over this 'unconstitutional act' which was met with youths throwing stones at the police and setting fire to tyres, Wade's chances will not be harmed by the opposition failing to agree on a unity candidate. 14 candidates in total, including three former prime ministers Idrissa Seck, Macky Sall and Moutapha Niasse, will contest the election as well as opposition leader Ousmane Dieng. If elected, Wade is now promising to put together a government of national unity of the best talents. One man who could have caused an upset, acclaimed musician Youssou N'Dour who is also a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, was barred from standing. In the election in 2007 Wade secured victory with 55% of the vote against 14 other hopefuls in a poll deemed free and fair by the elections observers from the Economic Community of West African States. If no candidate accrues more than 50% of the vote a run-off will follow.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR 2012

February - Lesotho - Pakalitha Mosisili's Lesotho Congress for Democracy Party was again successful winning 61 of the 80 seats contested for parliament. This also gave the party an extra 21 seats of the 40 set aside to balance parliamentary representation. The opposition, the All Basotho Convention, amassed 17 seats in the poll and a further 10 under the system of proportional respresentation. With 68% of the seats in parliament Mosisili secured another 5 years as prime minister in this country where the king, Letsie III, serves a largely ceremonial role. With an economy relying on migrant remittances even more than before as the textile industry struggles, the opposition All Basotho Convention should make progress in this poll.

April 29 - Mali - Amadou Toure steps down after 2 x 5 year terms. 2nd round if needed May 13.

September 5 - Angola - parliamentary election under new constitution after which president is chosen by parliament - president limited to 2 x 5 yr terms. The last election in Angola was in 1992 when Jose dos Santos of the Movement Popular for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) defeated its main opponent, UNITA, provoking UNITA to resume the civil war which started in 1975 when Portugal granted independence. This time round UNITA is struggling as a political force with key figures like Abel Epalanga jumping ship to establish a new opposition force that can attract more widespread support.

November 17 - Sierra Leone

December 17? - Kenya - Mwai Kibaki's 2 x 5 yr terms draw to a close. Under new constitution president needs 50% of the vote

December - Ghana

Date still awaited - Madagascar

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