African ministers approve draft democracy charter

BRAZZAVILLE – Ministers from across Africa approved a draft democracy charter on Saturday, laying down guidelines on elections and good governance in the world’s poorest continent.

A two-day meeting concluded on Saturday with unanimous agreement on the draft document which will be put before a heads of state meeting of the 53-nation African Union to be held in Gambia on July 1-2. “This is really a major advance in the democratic process in Africa,” said Emile Ognimba, director of political affairs at the African Union’s commission.Territorial administration ministers, gathered in the Congo Republic’s capital Brazzaville, finally reached agreement on a problematic clause stating electoral organs must be independent, a principal point of debate.The 55-article charter explicitly condemned coups, strongly criticised corruption and committed governments to promoting a free press, citizens’ participation in democracy and transparency in government.In its chapter on democracy, the draft document slammed the practice of changing a constitution to extend a president’s mandate in office.Leaders from Uganda, Guinea, Gabon, Burkina Faso, Congo Republic and Chad have used constitutional change to extend their rule.A similar bid was defeated in Nigeria last month.The text of the charter was drafted at a meeting of 200 experts and ministers in the Congolese capital from June 6-8.Congo Republic Prime Minister Isidore Mvouba, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the AU, had struck a note of caution at the start of the ministerial meeting on Friday.”Africans (must) avoid mere imitation and propose texts adapted to African states, texts which should contribute to the installation of a peaceful democracy across the continent.”Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, a former military ruler who regained power in 1997 after a brief civil war, was named AU chairman in January.Critics questioned whether Sassou-Nguesso’s scant democratic credentials and lack of diplomatic authority would allow him to push through democratic reforms at a continental level.The AU heads of state summit comes ahead of Democratic Republic of Congo’s first national elections in 40 years on July 30.The US-based Human Rights Watch on Friday expressed concerns of intimidation ahead of the vote.- Nampa-Reuters”This is really a major advance in the democratic process in Africa,” said Emile Ognimba, director of political affairs at the African Union’s commission.Territorial administration ministers, gathered in the Congo Republic’s capital Brazzaville, finally reached agreement on a problematic clause stating electoral organs must be independent, a principal point of debate.The 55-article charter explicitly condemned coups, strongly criticised corruption and committed governments to promoting a free press, citizens’ participation in democracy and transparency in government.In its chapter on democracy, the draft document slammed the practice of changing a constitution to extend a president’s mandate in office.Leaders from Uganda, Guinea, Gabon, Burkina Faso, Congo Republic and Chad have used constitutional change to extend their rule.A similar bid was defeated in Nigeria last month.The text of the charter was drafted at a meeting of 200 experts and ministers in the Congolese capital from June 6-8.Congo Republic Prime Minister Isidore Mvouba, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the AU, had struck a note of caution at the start of the ministerial meeting on Friday.”Africans (must) avoid mere imitation and propose texts adapted to African states, texts which should contribute to the installation of a peaceful democracy across the continent.”Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, a former military ruler who regained power in 1997 after a brief civil war, was named AU chairman in January.Critics questioned whether Sassou-Nguesso’s scant democratic credentials and lack of diplomatic authority would allow him to push through democratic reforms at a continental level.The AU heads of state summit comes ahead of Democratic Republic of Congo’s first national elections in 40 years on July 30.The US-based Human Rights Watch on Friday expressed concerns of intimidation ahead of the vote.- Nampa-Reuters