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African elections, winds of change?

23 janvier 2019, 10:11

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Hundreds of millions of voters across Africa, including Mauritius, will head to the polling centres this year. With some 20 countries holding their general elections, will Africa be under steady winds of change during 2019?

I should not be that confident. But still I will and want to be.

Let us face it. If holding elections are signs of healthy democracies, in Africa, the process is often scattered with traps and tainted by ethnic violence or struggles over resources. We hear about the war of power grabbing, authoritarian rulers entrenching themselves, money talks, if not blood sheds. If in Mauritius, the process is a peaceful one, the fight is in each and every voter’s conscience as finally we know that we are encroached in a vicious circle, having the same faces and mindsets or ideologies ruling the country over and over again, like these old-fashioned songs you don’t want to hear but can’t avoid.

Nigeria is bracing itself for next month’s presidential election and guess what, the police headquarters are already fearing security threats with the shadow of Boko Haram casting over Abuja, capital city of Nigeria. Other than this, no surprise, the outgoing president aged 76 years old will run against his main opponent, the ex vice-president of Nigeria. Winds of change?

In Algeria, it seems that the 81 year old Abdelaziz Bouteflika (in power since 1999) might seek another presidential term. Winds of change?

Now, let’s go down the Sahara, all the way to South Africa. After much turmoil the ANC, the historical party of Nelson Mandela, will have to prove yet again that they are trustworthy mostly after the recent Zuma storm.

Malawi, Peter Mutharika with a corruption case hanging over his head will again stand as presidential candidate (this kind of remind us of Pravind Jugnauth). Winds of change?

The list goes on and on and on. At the same time we must be fair. While Africa is facing many issues and challenges, the continent holds indeed a land of promise. Sixty percent of Africans are under the age of 25. The median age is 19. (By comparison, in North America it’s 35.) And the number of young people in Africa is expected to grow in the decades ahead. With a reservoir of young, one can expect change. Change in the habits and work for a better tomorrow. Africa is innovation driven, opening up its economy and tolerant to diversity making it an emerging continent in today’s economic world. “Young people are often the most optimistic people I meet. They are ambitious. They think in innovative ways and are eager to learn the newest technologies. They are also willing to take risks. To see Africa through their eyes is to see a continent brimming with potential and opportunity”, emphasized Bill Gates during a visit in Africa.

Indeed, everything is not perfect but it holds the hope of a better future. Africans can be the winds of change, not only for Africa, but for the world...