EISA - Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa

Some key insights from the excellent #EISASymposium2024 on navigating political transitions in Africa: Each political crisis, each election, each military coup has it own dynamics. However, there are some common trends across the continent. In particular: Factors accounting for the decline of democracy in Africa include: - [ ] the changing world order and the growing gap emerging between three blocks (West, East, South) drifting apart . - [ ] a strong and attractive narrative carefully crafted by new authoritarian and military regimes, which presents the rejection of democratic governance as as assertion of sovereignty. - [ ] a historically influent military. - [ ] feeble national institutions, which have been deliberately weakened over decades by elites. - [ ] the impatience of young people with these elites who have not delivered genuine democracy and with political processes which cannot deliver change. - [ ] competing and weakened regional and international institutions, including the AU and ECOWAS which do not apply their strong normative frameworks on democracy consistently. They have applied sanctions unevenly and unsuccessfully. Some suggestions going forward : - [ ] strengthen support for local civil society organizations where there remains sufficient space for civic action. - [ ] where national CSOs are prevented by increasingly restrictive legislation (« foreign agent laws »), then support regional platforms. - [ ] use digital communication tools to show young people that this alleged new “sovereignty” is often just allegiance to another power. - [ ] train young leaders and facilitate women’s inclusion in politics and civic action, by overcoming structural, legal and cultural barriers to their participation. - [ ] define an African model of democracy that does not undermine universal human rights norms but avoids a winner takes all approach. - [ ] learn from peaceful political transitions on the continent such as those in Senegal, Botswana or Ghana. - [ ] prepare for tomorrow and apply “strategic patience” when change cannot happen quickly. 🙏 for having me ! #AfricaDemocracy Baïdessou Soukolgué EISA - Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa

#eisasymposium2024

#EISASymposium2024

The sixth session of the #EISASymposium2024 is currently underway, speakers include Prof Admire Mare, Associate Professor, Department of Communication and Media, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Professor Winston Mano, Director of the Africa Media Centre, University of Westminster, United Kingdom Éric Topona Mocnga, journaliste au programme francophone, Deutsche Welle The session is being chaired by Professor Roukaya Kasanelly, Chairperson of the Board of EISA. Join the conversation: https://lnkd.in/dapvGVWW #TransitionsPolitiques #DémocratieAfrique #BonneGouvernance #africa #africademocracy #politicaltransitions #goodgovernance

Une illustration du travail d’EISA - Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa au Tchad à travers l’intervention de notre directeur pays #eisa #elections #tchad #chad 🇹🇩

The fifth session is under way, the topic for this session is "Civil Sector as Drivers of Democratic norms during Political Transitions". The speakers for this session include Dr Rayedé Thomas Ouedraogo, Executive Director, Centre pour la Gouvernance Démocratique in Burkina Faso; Valdiodio Ndiaye, Country Office Director at EISA Madagascar; Antonetta Hamandishe, Chief of Party of Democracy International, Liberia; Dr Omar Elkhair Ibrahim, Director General of the Sudanese Center for Democracy and Development (SCDD). Join the conversation: https://lnkd.in/dapvGVWW #EISASymposium2024 #EISA #EISAsymposium2024 #TransitionsPolitiques #DémocratieAfrique #BonneGouvernance #africa #africademocracy #politicaltransitions #goodgovernance

#EISASymposium2024

The second day of the #EISASymposium2024 is underway, the day begins with the fourth session of the symposium. This session is entitled "The use and misuse of elections in transitional politics" and the speakers are as follows: Oscar Bloh from the Centre for Democratic Governance in Liberia. Prof Augustin Loada, Executive Director, Centre for Democratic Governance, Burkina Faso; and Honorable Beatrice EPAYE, Member of Parliament, Central African Republic The session is chaired by Linford Andrews (EISA Board Member), Adviser and Head of the Electoral Support Section, Commonwealth Secretariat. Join the conversation: https://lnkd.in/dapvGVWW #EISASymposium2024 #EISA #EISAsymposium2024 #TransitionsPolitiques #DémocratieAfrique #BonneGouvernance #africa #africademocracy #politicaltransitions #goodgovernance

EISA Central African Republic Country Director gives a short summary of her presentations at the #EISASymposium2024 where she spoke about the importance of youth and civil society participation in our politics. Join the conversation: https://lnkd.in/dapvGVWW #EISASymposium2024 #EISA #EISAsymposium2024 #TransitionsPolitiques #DémocratieAfrique #BonneGouvernance #africa #africademocracy #politicaltransitions #goodgovernance

#EISASymposium2024 Meet the speakers: Eric Topano Mocnga #TransitionsPolitiques #DémocratieAfrique #BonneGouvernance #africa #africademocracy #politicaltransitions #goodgovernance