XYZ AFRICA NEWS BULLETIN@8
******************************************************************************************
@xyzafricanew8 | xyzafricanewsbulletinat8.blogspot.com
Light version for mobile & PDAs
******************************************************************************************
18 September, 2016
******************************************************************************************
FOCUS: Revisiting AfroDemocracy: Reflections for Democracy Day 16
WEST AFRICA:
- Presidential campaign suspended in Cape Verde
- UNODC, ECOWAS and partners to address challenges, responses to transnational organized crime and illicit drugs in West Africa
EAST AFRICA: With 68%, Dr. Kaberuka Keeps A Lead In AU Top Post
******************************************************************************************
FOCUS:
The whole of last week, we helped listeners understand aspects of democracy. Even after the celebration of Democracy Day, we believe a highlight of some of the best stories in the “AfroDemocracy” series of the “Africa in Focus” Show on Wednesdays remains important.
The series is the Show’s attempts to help listeners understand and appreciate the fact that, as Africa’s democratic dispensation deepens, it remains important that Africans unpack for themselves the elements that help inform democracy as practised by Africans.
Today, we revisit the significance the Ugandan elections that was held in this year.
#UgandaDecides
Governance Expert, Mark Amaliya, believes “the elections [that have] taken place in Uganda...is an example of how not to conduct elections.”
Speaking to E.K.Bensah Jr on the “Africa in Focus Show”, which reprised AfroDemocracy for the last time in Season 3 in the month of March, Amaliya added that, the take-away for Ghana is that “there are certain basic freedoms that we take for granted – the liberal media waves that we have; the dearth of critical reflections that go on in platforms such as social media; the alternative mindsets and perspectives that groups and individuals who are willing to discuss issues of the nation bring to bear – inform how we approach and hold our leaders accountable.”
He believes these are the things “we must guard jealously, because these have now proven, as in the case of Uganda, to be real constraints for rulers.” He feels were these freedoms to be raised as a national security concern, “then it means that countries that have the opportunity and citizens that have the opportunity...should use these platforms for the right purposes, while remembering the potential of these platforms exerting influence on governments.”
In Amaliya’s view, “it is significant to understand” that the Ugandan election “was not just an election, but a contest against the status quo.” He avers it was difficult to imagine change “without strong resistance.”
Quizzed by Bensah as to whether it was not expected that Museveni would win – for the mere fact he had been in power for so long – Amaliya tried to situate his response in the context of the region, by explaining that, East Africa is a region where good governance is “unique” in the sense that, apart from the fragile states, such as Somalia, that are part of the region, one even has countries, such as Kenya, which legitimacy was tested back in 2007; Rwanda’s Kagame who is a “known, historical ally of Museveni”. In short: powerful states, such as Kenya and Rwanda have all helped shape the uniqueness of the region, and probably negated any decision for them to condemn the elections in Uganda!
Worrying for Amaliya is his view that “East Africa still has to deal a lot with questions regarding how the political will in the region – the gap between elite rulers and legitimate concerns of citizens in those countries, plus the fact that influencing decision-making at the top in East Africa – considerably has to do with compromises among the elites.”
Speaking to E.K.Bensah Jr on the “Africa in Focus Show”, which reprised AfroDemocracy for the last time in Season 3 in the month of March, Amaliya added that, the take-away for Ghana is that “there are certain basic freedoms that we take for granted – the liberal media waves that we have; the dearth of critical reflections that go on in platforms such as social media; the alternative mindsets and perspectives that groups and individuals who are willing to discuss issues of the nation bring to bear – inform how we approach and hold our leaders accountable.”
He believes these are the things “we must guard jealously, because these have now proven, as in the case of Uganda, to be real constraints for rulers.” He feels were these freedoms to be raised as a national security concern, “then it means that countries that have the opportunity and citizens that have the opportunity...should use these platforms for the right purposes, while remembering the potential of these platforms exerting influence on governments.”
In Amaliya’s view, “it is significant to understand” that the Ugandan election “was not just an election, but a contest against the status quo.” He avers it was difficult to imagine change “without strong resistance.”
Quizzed by Bensah as to whether it was not expected that Museveni would win – for the mere fact he had been in power for so long – Amaliya tried to situate his response in the context of the region, by explaining that, East Africa is a region where good governance is “unique” in the sense that, apart from the fragile states, such as Somalia, that are part of the region, one even has countries, such as Kenya, which legitimacy was tested back in 2007; Rwanda’s Kagame who is a “known, historical ally of Museveni”. In short: powerful states, such as Kenya and Rwanda have all helped shape the uniqueness of the region, and probably negated any decision for them to condemn the elections in Uganda!
Worrying for Amaliya is his view that “East Africa still has to deal a lot with questions regarding how the political will in the region – the gap between elite rulers and legitimate concerns of citizens in those countries, plus the fact that influencing decision-making at the top in East Africa – considerably has to do with compromises among the elites.”
He lamented how the fact that “independent-minded bodies like the UN, and even the African Union, would really only have to come second and third-place to these elite networks raises very serious concerns about democracy in East Africa.”
*****************************
WEST AFRICA:
Campaigning for the October 2 presidential election in the tiny Atlantic island state of Cape Verde was suspended Friday due to the death of its first democratically-elected president.
The authorities declared two days of mourning in memory of president Antonio Mascarenhas Monteiro, 72, who ruled the country between 1991 and 2001 with the liberal Movement for Democracy (MPD).
All public events are cancelled during the mourning period and the campaign, which kicked off on Thursday, will resume Monday.
Following Cape Verde's independence from Portugal in 1975, the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) ruled unopposed until the introduction of multi-party democracy in 1990.
Incumbent Jorge Carlos Fonseca, 66, had toured markets in the capital, Praia, on Thursday as his campaign kicked off, bolstered by landslide victories in municipal elections held two weeks ago and a general election in March.
Fonseca also represents the MPD and is hoping to return to power for a second term.
He announced his "profound regret and sadness" over the death of "a very important figure in the history of Cape Verde, and above all, a friend" on his Facebook page on Friday afternoon.
In Cape Verde, home to 500,000 people and considered one of the most democratic countries in the world, executive power lies mainly with the prime minister, who is chosen by the largest party in parliament.
Fonseca faces two independent candidates: veteran political campaigner Joaquim Monteiro, 75, a key player in the country's fight for independence from Portugal in the 1970s; and university rector Albertino Graca, 57.
The PAICV has yet to recover from its recent twin defeats and will not field a presidential candidate after rejecting ouvertures from Graca and following the resignation submitted by leader Janira Hopffer Almada.
The archipelago of 10 islands elected Fonseca for the first time in 2011, and he is campaigning on a record of stability and a promise to "confront the challenges of economic growth, reducing unemployment and the need to give our young people more hope."
Cape Verde's strategic position in the Atlantic and its temperate climate mean tourism, commerce and fishing are its main industries.
The authorities declared two days of mourning in memory of president Antonio Mascarenhas Monteiro, 72, who ruled the country between 1991 and 2001 with the liberal Movement for Democracy (MPD).
All public events are cancelled during the mourning period and the campaign, which kicked off on Thursday, will resume Monday.
Following Cape Verde's independence from Portugal in 1975, the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) ruled unopposed until the introduction of multi-party democracy in 1990.
Incumbent Jorge Carlos Fonseca, 66, had toured markets in the capital, Praia, on Thursday as his campaign kicked off, bolstered by landslide victories in municipal elections held two weeks ago and a general election in March.
Fonseca also represents the MPD and is hoping to return to power for a second term.
He announced his "profound regret and sadness" over the death of "a very important figure in the history of Cape Verde, and above all, a friend" on his Facebook page on Friday afternoon.
In Cape Verde, home to 500,000 people and considered one of the most democratic countries in the world, executive power lies mainly with the prime minister, who is chosen by the largest party in parliament.
Fonseca faces two independent candidates: veteran political campaigner Joaquim Monteiro, 75, a key player in the country's fight for independence from Portugal in the 1970s; and university rector Albertino Graca, 57.
The PAICV has yet to recover from its recent twin defeats and will not field a presidential candidate after rejecting ouvertures from Graca and following the resignation submitted by leader Janira Hopffer Almada.
The archipelago of 10 islands elected Fonseca for the first time in 2011, and he is campaigning on a record of stability and a promise to "confront the challenges of economic growth, reducing unemployment and the need to give our young people more hope."
Cape Verde's strategic position in the Atlantic and its temperate climate mean tourism, commerce and fishing are its main industries.
Still in West Africa…
Journalists are invited to cover the Joint Launch of the UN Office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC) Regional Programme for West Africa and ECOWAS Plan of Action to Address Illicit Drug Trafficking, Organized Crime and Drug Abuse in West Africa, 2016-2020, TOMORROW 19 September 2016, at UN Headquarters in New York.
UNODC Executive Director, Yury Fedotov, ECOWAS Commission President, Marcel A. de Souza, and Head of UN Office for West Africa & Sahel(UNOWAS) Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas.
He will address challenges and responses to transnational organized crime and health consequences of drugs in West Africa.
Transnational organized crime in all its forms, illicit trafficking, terrorism, corruption, the laundering of criminal assets and terrorism financing, as well as weaknesses in the criminal justice system, HIV and drug abuse are increasing threats to development, peace and stability in West Africa. These constantly-evolving threats gradually erode the foundations of the State, by challenging the progress towards good governance and the implementation of the Rule of Law, ultimately compromising economic and human development in the sub-region.
The global nature of these challenges and their undeniable national and interregional ramifications, require our full attention. Regional and international cooperation should be at the core of the responses to be provided to successfully face the transnational threats that affect the whole of West Africa and impact the world at large.
The new UNODC Regional Programme and the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan to Address Illicit Drug Trafficking, Organized Crimes and Drug Abuse in West Africa, both covering the period 2016-2020, aim at mobilising joint efforts in order to successfully face current and future threats in West Africa.
The pillars of the two documents are aligned and strategically complementary with the purpose of supporting a framework of national, regional and inter-regional collective action, to strengthen the capacities of States in the areas of governance, security and health-promotion, linking national, regional and international actors.
While the primary responsibility for addressing the challenges that threaten peace and security in the region pertains to Governments, the role and the strong will of ECOWAS and the United Nations is to support Member States in addressing the scourges that often extend beyond West Africa.
*****************************
EAST AFRICA
Dr. Donald Kaberuka, former African Development Bank President is leading a 15 bigshot politician list as a hot favorite for the African Union Commission chief’s post according to readers’ opinion poll by Africapedia news site.
The survey indicated that the Rwandan national who turned AFDB for better in two consecutive terms topped the list garnering 68 per cent. His compatriot and Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo, comes second with 13 per cent.
On the list of polled African prominent politicians featured also Thabo Mbeki, former South African President, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala , former Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Makhtar Diop , Senegale’s World Bank’s vice president, Pravin Gordhan, South African politician and current Minister of Finance, Amina J. Mohammed, Nigeria’s Minister of Environment; Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam International, among others.
At the 27th Assembly of the African Union heads of state held July in Rwanda’s capital Kigali, African countries failed to choose among three candidates Foreign Minister of Botswana, Dr. Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi and Foreign Minister of Equatorial Guinea, former Vice President of Uganda Dr. Speciosa Kazibwe and Agapito Mba Mokuy.
In a closed-door exercise, seven rounds of voting marred by high abstentions were conducted and none of three contenders garnered required votes for the post.
The most contested election was postponed to 30-31 January 2017 during the 28th AU summit of heads of state set to take place at AU headquarters in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia.
Member states were notified of nomination process as from early August and the submission of candidatures for chairperson and deputy chairperson posts is due to be done before 30th September 2016.
Dr. Kaberuka is an economist who in immediate post-Genocide joined hands with others to turn around Rwanda’s flattered economy. After a successful political career, he was voted for the President of the AfDB where he served it from 2005-2015.
The survey indicated that the Rwandan national who turned AFDB for better in two consecutive terms topped the list garnering 68 per cent. His compatriot and Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo, comes second with 13 per cent.
On the list of polled African prominent politicians featured also Thabo Mbeki, former South African President, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala , former Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Makhtar Diop , Senegale’s World Bank’s vice president, Pravin Gordhan, South African politician and current Minister of Finance, Amina J. Mohammed, Nigeria’s Minister of Environment; Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam International, among others.
At the 27th Assembly of the African Union heads of state held July in Rwanda’s capital Kigali, African countries failed to choose among three candidates Foreign Minister of Botswana, Dr. Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi and Foreign Minister of Equatorial Guinea, former Vice President of Uganda Dr. Speciosa Kazibwe and Agapito Mba Mokuy.
In a closed-door exercise, seven rounds of voting marred by high abstentions were conducted and none of three contenders garnered required votes for the post.
The most contested election was postponed to 30-31 January 2017 during the 28th AU summit of heads of state set to take place at AU headquarters in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia.
Member states were notified of nomination process as from early August and the submission of candidatures for chairperson and deputy chairperson posts is due to be done before 30th September 2016.
Dr. Kaberuka is an economist who in immediate post-Genocide joined hands with others to turn around Rwanda’s flattered economy. After a successful political career, he was voted for the President of the AfDB where he served it from 2005-2015.
*****************************
*****************************
Ends
Produced by Emmanuel.K.Bensah Jr (@ekbensah);
presented by Joshua Quodjo-Mensah
No comments:
Post a Comment