Key role in promoting democracy and peace in Africa
FOR sustainable human development in the African continent, there are two most important prerequisites – democracy and peace.
There is a direct linkage between democracy and peace in our beloved motherland, and this is without any reasonable dispute.
In other parts of the African continent, the promotion of peace and democracy is hindered by protracted and violent conflicts (in this case, the current state in the Democratic Republic of Congo, under the leadership of President Joseph Kabila), including civil wars.
The African Union (AU) has therefore set itself “inspirational” goals on this issue.
The union has stated that “by 2020, all guns will be silent”.
The AU Commission in 2015 had this to say: “A culture of peace and tolerance shall be nurtured in Africa’s children and youth through peace education.”
The AU in its mission to promote democracy and peace in Africa has built an expansive and robust normative framework, in which the framework is coupled with mechanisms and institutions to implement and oversee this framework.
The role of these institutions is to strengthen democratic governance throughout Africa and in AU member states emerging from violent conflict.
The most notable factor of the framework is that it is part of the AU’s efforts in promoting democratic governance and of course the rule of law, in which both are critical for people-centred socioeconomic development.
The 1963 charter of the Organisation of African Unity only embraced the doctrine of non-interference in the internal affairs of members states, but the AU Constitutive Act of 2000 embraces a new doctrine of non-indifference to human rights abuses within the territory of AU member states.
This new doctrine has emboldened the AU in its democracy-promotion and peacebuilding mandate in fragile and conflict-ridden states.
Under the AU Commission, the peace and security council has a broad mandate that ranges from the promotion of peace, security and stability in Africa, to the creation of an enabling environment for sustainable development.
This mandate includes conflict prevention.
The African Peace and Security Architecture (Apsa) is one of the most important factors/mechanisms for peace and security in Africa.
Apsa was established in 2002, and it was conceived as a set of functional tools for prevention, management and resolution of conflicts.
The AU, just like any other continental or regional organisation, is faced with challenges.
Therefore, the evolution of the AU’s normative framework on unconstitutional changes of government has been hindered by selectivity, inconsistencies and variations in the concrete implementation of some of its aspects.
While the AU remains at the forefront of the articulation of democratic norms, the effective implementation of democratic ideals depends on the action of AU member states.
According to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, the AU has developed a comprehensive mandate that encompasses the creation, protection and support of democracy in its member states.
Since 2000, the AU has continuously expanded its mandate in the field of democracy support and developed new mechanisms to fight unconstitutional changes of government and support the establishment of democratic institutions.
For the AU to ensure peace and democracy in Africa, it should focus on:
ý Broadening the legal framework – this basically means that the AU needs to adequately address the needs and aspirations of citizens in the implementation of its progress normative framework on unconstitutional changes.
ý Domesticating and implementing norms – the AU needs to invest more effort in encouraging its member states to ratify and implement the shared values and instruments which they have adopted. AU member states should sign, ratify, domesticate and implement all the AU’s instruments which are aimed at deepening democratic and good governance on the continent.
ý Promoting the integrity of elections – the AU, together with the eight regional economic communities (the Arab Maghreb Union, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Community of Sahel-Saharan States, the East African Community, the Economic Community of Central African States, the Economic Community of West African States, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the Southern African Development Community) and their individual member states should invest more energy and resources in promoting the integrity of the electoral processes as a strategy in preventing electoral violence and supporting peaceful post-election transitions.
ý Partnering for peace with like-minded organisations for the successful creation, protection and promotion of democracy in AU member states – and coordinating with other international actors with similar mandates.
The level of cooperation between the AU and the regional economic communities could benefit from further advancement, including additional joint activities.
“Until the rotten tooth is pulled out, one must learn to chew with caution” – African proverb.
‘ The African Union has stated that ‘by 2020, all guns will be silent’