Are Africa’s Democracies Backsliding?

www.ozy.com [OZY]() Your World. Bold & Bright [Daily Dose]( Sponsored by [Cariuma]( The newsletter to fuel — and thrill — your mind. Read for deep dives into the unmissable ideas and topics shaping our world. May 13, 2022 Today Africa’s young and enterprising population paired with its newly-minted economies and rich natural resources has meant that for decades, the continent has been seen as a shining opportunity for global wealth and prosperity. But immature economies, post-colonial meddling and grand but sometimes unworkable ideas have led some African countries to stall or, worse, backslide. In the 21st century, democratic backsliding has become the order of the day. This is not an Africa-only problem: The attack on the U.S. Capitol at the conclusion of Donald Trump’s presidency showed the rest of the world just how fragile democratic systems are everywhere, in spite of constitutional checks and balances. Across Africa today, several Arab Spring-style protests have emerged. Jailed protesters, internet shutdowns and military interventions are becoming, once again, normal. – with reporting by Oluwatosin Adeshokan from Lagos, Nigeria [Trust the numbers]( [Cariuma]( We’ve told you how good these shoes are, but if you don’t want to take our word for it, or the words of over 15 thousand 5-star reviewers… consider this. [Over 61 *thousand* people]( were on the wait list to get their hands on these, and they are now back in stock. (For now.) Take your choice of over ten colors, many of them new and bright for spring. And as a special [Bonus for the OZY family, take $15 off your pair.](Just use the code OZY2022. [Shop Now]( Sudan’s Arab Spring Misfire In 2019, long-serving Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir was [removed from power following months of protests](. Neither democratic nor elected, al-Bashir had taken the presidency in 1993 following a coup, and after his ouster, the military resumed control of the government. [If deposing al-Bashir seemed to be the answer to the problem of poor governance]( for the people of Sudan, the military’s ascendance has ripped up the answer sheet and prepared new exam questions. [What do supermodel Nina Adgel, comedian Pete Davidson, and actress Helen Mirren have in common?]( [Cariuma]( They've all been seen stepping out at A-list celebrity events like the Cannes Film Festival in comfy and stylish [Cariuma]( sneakers. It's no wonder, with bold and saturated colors that are fashion-first and Internet-famous, that these are the shoes of the moment. As a member of the in-crowd that is the OZY community, you get [$15 off by using the code OZY2022.]( [Shop Now]( Chad’s “Family” Presidency In 2021, [Chad’s president, Idriss Déby, died after clashes with rebels](—just one day after provisional election results projected he would win a sixth term in office. Déby and his insurgent group, Patriotic Salvation Movement, had previously taken power from Hissène Habré, a former warlord-turned-president. Through a special charter and supposedly free elections, Déby had served as Chad’s president for over 30 years. The Chadian people, meanwhile, had gone through several stages in their relationship with Déby. At first, they welcomed his ascendance. Soon after, his military was accused of authoritarianism, and Déby of ruling with an [iron fist](. Toward the end of his life, he enjoyed some renewed support thanks to his [handling of the Boko Haram crisis](. Following his death, Déby’s son, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, [took power]( through a military council. He promised an 18-month transitional period, which would be followed by free elections sometime in 2022. Burkina Faso’s “Approved” Military Intervention This year in Burkina Faso, [President Roch Kaboré was removed from power by the military]( after months of anti-government protests. This move has been generally welcomed in this West African nation where, nearly three decades ago, Kaboré made promises of better governance on which he failed to deliver. [As reported by Reuters](, the coup was the work of a new entity called the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration. The upshot? The military now holds the reins of government. Rwanda’s Seemingly Benevolent Dictatorship In 2021, Rwandan businessman and millionaire Revocant Karemangingo was killed in Maputo, Mozambique. Karemangingo had been a vocal critic of Rwandan president Paul Kagame, and was expelled from his Rwandan home in 1994. While the government denied wrongdoing, Karemangingo is one of a list of Rwandans who opposed the government and ended up arrested or dead. Thanks to the disappearance or death of Kagame’s opposition, the muzzling of the press and organizations promoting civil rights or free speech, Kagame has achieved improbable landslide election wins. His 2017 victory, in which he supposedly garnered 98.8% of the vote, followed a 2015 referendum that allowed the president to seek a third term. While the U.S. State Department cited “[irregularities](” during voting, the European Union released a statement [supporting the peaceful elections](. Indeed, Rwanda’s economic development has made Kagame a darling of the West. Policy experts on the continent suspect Western leaders are not so interested in genuine democracy but are more inclined to support regional stability, whether democratically driven or otherwise. Kenya and the Ghost of Militaries Past In 1982, a [failed coup attempt]( by the Kenyan Air Force against then-president Daniel Toroitich arap Moi led to a tightening of the military’s power and influence on civilian life. However, fast forward to the present and President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta has turned to the military [to run Nairobi County](, which includes the capital city; this has given military leaders renewed political prominence. President Kenyatta has also [ordered]( the Kenya Defence Forces to run the Kenya Meat Commission. Other military appointments include retired [Maj. Gen. Philip Kameru to the role of National Intelligence Service Director](, retired [Col. Cyrus Oguna to serve as government spokesperson](, and [Col. Alice Mate to head the Asset Recovery Agency](. These appointments come a year before elections, when Kenyatta is scheduled to relinquish power after two terms. For the people, there is cause for worry, as the military has spread its tentacles across parastatal organizations and embedded itself deeper in civilian life. Kenya has been one of the few East African countries to steer clear of military interference in its politics. But across the continent, history has shown that once soldiers are released from the barracks, containing them can be a deadly challenge. WATCH AUNTS ET UNCLES [The Carlos Watson Show](, season 4! Troubles in Nigeria Following nationwide protests over police brutality in 2020, Nigerian officials met with China’s internet regulatory agency to discuss an internet firewall. Nigeria has since banned, and then unbanned, Twitter. Now, with the 2023 elections in sight, several members of Nigeria’s government are pursuing higher office. The country’s attorney general is seeking governorship, while the governor of [the Central Bank is flirting with a run for presidency](. This exposes dangerous conflicts of interest. With so many members of the current government seeking top office and promising better governance, the people may be wondering why the government isn’t working right now. Despite doing away with military rule in 1999 to usher in democracy, Nigeria has—at best—enjoyed democracy lite. The military is unofficially in power, and the military presence in the Eastern region of the country, which sought independence in the ‘70s, [exacerbates tensions](. Insurgency, militancy and an uncurbed police force remain fixtures of daily life. [Journalists are routinely arrested]( on trumped-up charges, and [political opponents]( or activists agitating for breakaway states may find themselves jailed. Community Corner Which events across the continent are you interested in reading more about? 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