Democracy in Africa

YOUTUBE Premiere FROM KREISKY'S LIVING ROOM 

Georg Lennkh in conversation with Caroline Gudenus

Democracy in Africa
Can Senegal be an example?

Most recently overshadowed by the Covid problem, there has been an increase in reports from Africa about negative trends and even open conflicts in democratic political developments. The focus is on issues such as the peaceful transition of power, the separation of powers, the work of journalists and freedom of expression, corruption, the role of civil society in public life and the temptation of those in power to use violence to assert themselves. Elections are no longer formal and unexciting updates or changes to political power relations. They have become focal points for all tensions, inequalities and pent-up anger at the obviously enriching elites, and thus political crisis events with an uncertain outcome. Examples of this are the elections held in Tanzania, Côte d'Ivoire, the Central African Republic and Uganda in recent months. At least nine more critical elections are scheduled for 2021. Against this backdrop, we will first discuss one country, Senegal, which has managed to steer a largely peaceful democratic political course despite all the tensions, and then examine other examples, especially in West Africa, from this given perspective.

Caroline Gudenus, Former Austrian ambassador to several African countries

Georg Lennkh, Board member of the Kreisky Forum, former Austrian Special Envoy of the Federal Government for Africa