Why democracy is stalling in Africa

[Cossyblack]

Many Africans who fought for the so-called “second liberation of Africa” in the 1990s — which led to an end to military dictatorships in most of Africa — have become disillusioned and wonder why the democratization process is stalling in most of Africa.

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/573677-why-democracy-is-stalling-in-africa/

[1714484467]

1714484467

[Gozie51]

Those who fought the military have not been able to build institutions that will help install sane and transparent leadership. It is more of selfishness that they have done all that because they want to also go into power. Those who fought the colonial administration were more focused to reshape the African soil, people like Mandela of South Africa, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania Kwame Nkrumah, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Milton Obote of Uganda,  Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe etc did more than those whose aim to fight military is to go in there. No wonder that military government has started returning to some African countries because the people are no longer happy with the style of democracy in Africa where there are no institutions and the president takes charge of other organs of government.

[Churchillvv]

Military rule has been a big issue in Africa from history but it began to die off when most leading countries in Africa had good and genuine leaders who help to fight against military rule which was monstrous and barbaric in nature. If Nigeria in particular still has its best president ever in sit till today the Africa nations would have been experiencing progress day after day. Since the dismissal of our hero in Nigeria the democracy in Africa not just Nigeria alone has turn into the politics of the stomach. Almost all the leaders going into sit in Africa are all there for the solely aim of feeding themselves instead of serving the people as intended.

Africans still prefer democracy because it's the only way to give power to the people but it has been manipulated in Africa where most leaders misuse power for themselves. When the militaries in Africa sees a hole in the leader of democracy they use it as an opportunity to take over the government and force a lot of people to go under their rules and if eventually someone goes against the rules they turn out to execute the person with a coup, and sometimes they make this coups in disguise, using accidents as excuse but in the obvious it's a coup.

On a personal level, I believe external forces are also contributors to this underground African wars and/or crisis because most weapons are shipped from popular countries mostly the Russia and America and for the sake of their business to keep sailing they them to pressure the wars to continue, this has been happening under the noses of Africans all because the good leaders has been lost and the rest are afraid to speak the truth because they took bribe (corruption) from the incumbent leaders hence they do not have decision force anymore to preach against bad leadership. This corruption is what has been attracting the military rules in Africa once again and if time isn't taken we might end up having a ww3 in coming years because of the world powerful countries will be contributing to the improper actions in Africa.

I have become so emotional that I can't stop writing if I continue I will have to fill the whole space with my post, let me leave the space for others to share their thoughts. I believe the hope in African will rise again when my country Nigeria experience a better leader who will be sincere and have the capacity to impact in other Africa countries too.

[kentrolla]

It's the greediness and selfishness of power hungry individuals who don't give a damn about their own people as they just wants the infinite power and yes these are the kind of officers we have in Africa who are just keen on staging couple to get into power and unfortunately the ordinary Africans who pays the price. Democracy is the only way for development and freedom but it's still a long battle it's a psychological war as a generation should be though how not to be power hungry so that this chain stops.

[Hispo]

I don't have studies on the history of Africa but I have read about it before. It would seem to me, that much of the problem comes before of the bad quality of the leadership there in the African continent and also because there is a lack of the sense of duty and honor among the people of many countries of the continent, most politicians are there, in those positions just to try to fill their pockets and the pockets of their family. It is the basic idea of kleptocracy within a country.
I, as a Venezuelan, can tell you have got much experience with kleptocrats and we are still trying to deal with them.

The people of Africa needs to be careful with leaders who leverage on full populism, instead of putting some actual plans onto the table. The quality of the leaders is important, but in the end, it is the people who choose the president or the prime minister of their land.

[Majestic-milf]

 In lay man terms, democracy is a system of governing which depends on the will of the people but if you pair and contrast it to what we see in Africa today, that definition is no where near the truth. In my country, the people have no say as to who they want because even though there is an election which promises to be free and fair, we end up seeing the reverse; of it's nots thugs stealing ballot boxes, it's the participants trying to bribe their way into power by making numerous promises which they know they won't fulfill.
 The op asks why democracy is stalling in Africa? I'd give you one simple answer. Gone are the days where people are concerned for the well being of others, instead they prefer to die with as much wealth as possible than let the common man who put them in there to see a penny.
 In the early days, a leader was not called one just by the fact that he's eloquent or a good orator, but the passion with which he/she had for the the growth of his/her country!

[montaga]

Democracy = when two shool dropout's tell a professor with two-thirds majority what he needs to do and make laws for him to get his life in order.

[QuinielaPosible]

Democracy in Africa is hitting roadblocks for several reasons. Inside the continent, issues like corruption, unstable politics, and not-so-strong institutions are making it tough for democracy to thrive

[BADecker]

Many Africans who fought for the so-called “second liberation of Africa” in the 1990s — which led to an end to military dictatorships in most of Africa — have become disillusioned and wonder why the democratization process is stalling in most of Africa.

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/573677-why-democracy-is-stalling-in-africa/

The answer is that Democracy is simply another name for Group Dictatorship.

If the people would set their government up so that it was a Republic, and where the operating government, itself, was the Democracy, then they would have a chance. That's what the US did. It's why there is as much freedom in the US as there is.

[Frankolala]

Democracy is not practiced in Africa, because the so called leaders don't understand what democracy is. The reason is that only 1% of Africa leaders are after good name and honor, the rest are after the riches of the country. They prefer to be called bad and corrupt leaders but let them be rich.

Africa countries suffering from bad leaders and dictatorship government needs to change the entire system, and look for how prominent and upright people will take over leadership from this corrupt leader, because the whole system is corrupt to the Judiciary. So laws does not catch up with the rich or connected but only with only with the poor and people that don't have any connection.

[Dunamisx]

Many Africans who fought for the so-called “second liberation of Africa” in the 1990s — which led to an end to military dictatorships in most of Africa — have become disillusioned and wonder why the democratization process is stalling in most of Africa.

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/573677-why-democracy-is-stalling-in-africa/

Are you saying now that the military era are taking revolution in taking over from democracy or what, if you look into the cases of some of the African countries, check well the method of leadership they adopt, you will discover that most of them are not even practicing the full democracy kind of leadership, maybe we can use the likes of the recent challenges countries with the leaders and the kind of leadership practice they make in such country, take a look at Niger, Congo, Zambia, Libya and so many other to see the way they run the administrative affairs of their leaders in the country.

[DeathAngel]

Democracy in Africa faces challenges from authoritarian regimes, weak institutions, corruption, economic instability, inequality, ethnic divisions & external interference. Strengthening institutions, promoting inclusive governance, tackling corruption & prioritising socioeconomic development is crucial for sustaining democracy. In comparison to say, 100 years ago, progress has been made.

[Volimack]

The reason behind the stagnation of democracy in africa is the anti western attitude behind this political situation in Africa. And lack of confidence in democracy. Because in most of the countries of the region, democratic system is not run with people in mind it is in the interest of a few people. The quality of life of the common people did not improve there for many years.

[Ndabagi01]

Many Africans who fought for the so-called “second liberation of Africa” in the 1990s — which led to an end to military dictatorships in most of Africa — have become disillusioned and wonder why the democratization process is stalling in most of Africa.

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/573677-why-democracy-is-stalling-in-africa/

With the state of things in African countries now, it is a big shame to those that put their life out in order for Africa to be fully independent. Those are the true leaders that if they’d been the ones that will continue in power, Africa would have gone farther beyond where they are now. Those that took power after them are just after their own interests, building themselves and their families with people’s money. Democracy which is suppose to liberate the Africans are now use to punish the Africans by their so called corrupt leaders who have the powers within them to do as they wish. Today, more than three African countries are now going back to the military rule, a sought of dictatorship government where rules are not seconded to questioning or deliberated about passing them into law. Some think this is the best for Africa while those that know the true meaning of democracy are against it.

[Gozie51]

Because in most of the countries of the region, democratic system is not run with people in mind it is in the interest of a few people. The quality of life of the common people did not improve there for many years.

You are right democracy is not suppose to be of the interest of few rather of larger group of people in the society. The point to the kind of democracy some region practice is selfishness. The leaders are selfish on the people, they don't practice the kind of open system of democracy that is for the people and to the people. They do the wish of few to the detriment of many but in more democratic system, it is on the contrary.

[moneystery]

problems regarding democracy are experienced by the majority of African countries. there are always problems regarding this matter which causes many cases of rebellion and coups by the military. the problem in Africa is quite complex, because apart from the system being corrupt, its citizens are also very easily provoked to rebel or coup their leaders. this is making the conditions of most countries in Africa worse and that is why this continent's development is so slow compared to other continents, even though a lot of funds have been poured into regional development.

[jrrsparkles]

Democracy is a system that is supposed to satisfy so called majority but these leaders know how to keep the people busy and doesn't understand what really the politics is about, it's visible in African countries because the gap between rich and poor reached its extreme but it's more are less similar in all around the world.

[Kelward]

The common man in Africa, needs democracy, so that they can elect the right candidates into power that have the qualities and characters to take their countries from poverty to prosperity, but the truth is that there are forces that don't want Africans to have true democracies. It's not necessarily spiritual forces, but wicked individuals that are cabals and mafias, and wants Africa, to remain in backwards and impoverished state, while the rest of the world is progressive. This is why elections are a waste of time and resources in most African countries, in the end the masses votes won't count, elections will be rigged and the unpopular candidates will be declared winners, and there's nothing that the citizens can do about it. The powers that makes things happen in Africa, are not prepared for democracy yet, this is my submission.

[ferida504]

It's the greediness and selfishness of power hungry individuals who don't give a damn about their own people as they just wants the infinite power and yes these are the kind of officers we have in Africa who are just keen on staging couple to get into power and unfortunately the ordinary Africans who pays the price. Democracy is the only way for development and freedom but it's still a long battle it's a psychological war as a generation should be though how not to be power hungry so that this chain stops.

one of the reasons is that the government cannot make society prosperous, the government should be able to provide solutions to citizens, be it training so that people can be independent in earning money, a=if people don't have the skills, what happens is they take shortcuts such as robbing and if they surrender forced to endure hunger. The government must be able to collaborate with foreign countries for the welfare of society. Until now, it seems like a waste of government agencies there, many children are starving and dropping out of school, and there is also a lack of clean water so that many infectious diseases arise.