"Politics in Africa": "Africa moving towards democracy"?

Le 20 mars 2012 par IVOIREBUSINESS - Since the collapse of "Berlin wall" in 1989, that turned everything upside down in the whole Africa, as far as democratic values are concerned, today in (2012), african history can record that a few

african countries have been able to operate liberal democratic regimes, since post independence period: These include today: "Benin", "Ghana", "Gambia", "Bostwana", "LIBERIA"...On the contrary, the exception in "West Africa", seems to be the "Ivory Coast" since (APRIL 2011), where the current new regime of president "ALLASSANE OUATTA" seems to pave the way the way for a so called former one party rule in the country, far more typical in the whole "Africa" of the sixties, seventies and eighties! Moreover, in Africa, past conditions have not favoured liberal democracy! Therefore, political and military leaders have often been hostile to democracy: the population has not been used to it. With resources in such short supply, the african state became the main point of access to them! Meanwhile, the struggle to gain and hold on to power was relentless in the dark continent...There was little restraint or tolerance, and political opposition carried great risks so often like in the "Ivory COAST", a large number of oppostion officials is still behind the bars, being unfortunately tortured! In many african countries, the transition to democracy has taken place since the 1990s, against the backdrop of economic deterioration. In addition to that crucial reality, democratically chosen politicians are picking up the pieces from years of authoritarian misrule and misspending. In the same trend, prosperity is always the best handmaiden for democracy, and the two concepts:(democracy and prosperity) have to be linked forever in "Africa"...To some extent, post-authoritarian states in the third world, just like communist states in the second world, are growing up in a tough environment! In reality, democracy has got its space and has to be grounded in cultural values within the limit of the law of a nation, but in return, lack of democracy in a country, can also be to some point, a major obstacle of the self fulfillment of a nation in the new millennium!
(Yves T Bouazo)