By More Matshediso
Johannesburg - The African Union (AU) has strongly condemned the occurrence of holding on to power by Heads of State and refusing political elections to run peacefully.
This follows the deteriorating political situation in Burundi, where President Pierre Nkuruziza's decision to run for a third presidential term has sparked violent and deadly protests in Bujumbura.
On Friday, AU Political Affairs Commissioner Aisha Laraba Abdullahi said holding credible, democratic and peaceful elections is critical for the achievement of the noble goals of the Africa Agenda 2063.
She was speaking on contemporary trends in elections in Africa 2015 to 2016.
Electoral violence constitutes a threat to democratic consolidation and citizens’ participation in an electoral process, said Abdullahi.
“We are particularly concerned about the upcoming elections in Burundi and Central African Republic. We are currently preparing for the general elections in Burundi, Tanzania, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Burkina Faso,” she said.
The African Charter on democracy, elections and governance outlines that access to exercise state power should be in accordance with the constitution of the state party and the rule of law.
“The holding of regular transparent, free and fair elections is stated as a key requirement for exceeding to state power,” she said.
She said all AU Member States embrace multiparty elections.
In 2015, a total of 15 elections were planned, and Abdullahi said eight have so far been conducted in the first half of the year in Benin, Comoros, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Nigeria, Sudan, Togo and Zambia.
She said elections planned for the second half of the year include Burundi, Tanzania, Cote d’Ivore, Guinea and Burkina Faso.
The AU’s overall goal is to entrench the culture of constitutionalism and rule of law, where in politics of bullets are replaced by ballots.
In 2016, eight elections are expected to take place in Africa. The AU hopes for the 2016 elections to follow the trend of first half of the year 2015 elections, which Abdullahi said were generally peaceful.
Women and Youth
Abdullahi said women, who make up about 50% of the continent’s population, should be availed the opportunity to run for political offices at the national level through the democratic process.
“Women must occupy leadership positions in political parties. Africa’s women hold keys towards achieving Agenda 2063.
“It is also significant that we collectively work towards the participation of women in decision making as well as peace mediation and conflict prevention,” said Abdullahi.
She said Africa is a youthful continent as youth makes approximately 75% of the African population.
“Our youth will become an asset if we empower them through civic education, especially girls. They can also become a liability if they are marginalised and disempowered.
“Once marginalised and disempowered, these youth become vulnerable to criminal pursuits including radicalisation and extremist by terrorist groups such as Al Qaida in North Africa and Middle East, Boko Haram in West Africa, Al Shabab in East Africa,” she said.
He said Africa’s youth occupy a strategic position in AU’s efforts to silence guns and end wars in Africa by 2020. - SAnews.gov.za
