In 2002, a Future of Africa conference, televised on C-SPAN, featured voices from the African diaspora who were given the opportunity to weigh in on the prospects for democracy. Nearly two decades later, Africa’s indigenous voices are being largely ignored. These key voices, of which I am one, have been marginalized on the continent. This has also been the case here in the United States, despite routine pledges from American administrations who have promised engagement and support for our shared pro-democracy values.
Back in 2008, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice established the Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion (ACDP), a group of experts to advise on how to best integrate issues of democratic governance and leadership into U.S. foreign policy, including in Africa. Among the stated goals of the ACDP was “to advise on methods for consulting and coordinating with individuals and NGOs … regarding programs related to the promotion of human rights and democracy administered by the United States Government.”
In tandem, and to overcome marginalization from the Global North, African leaders have leaned heavily on the “African solutions to African problems” mantra – it has also been used to justify human rights abuses and to lob attacks against ‘foreign meddling.’ And the international community has too often been quick to accept this dubious rhetoric. In this void, substantive action between Africans on the continent and those in the diaspora has been severely lacking.
What is needed today, then, is a collective and united effort to urgently defend democracy.
Today, several states are clearly out of their depth, and the term ‘democracy’ is not well understood. It has also been mischaracterized by abusive leaders who once again frame democratic values as somehow being ‘imposed by the outside,’ conveniently ignoring many of the conventions and treaties to which their countries are a signatory. Therefore, an increase in education and understanding about the role and power of democratic citizens is necessary.
In a healthy democracy, those affected by the decisions of their leaders – assuming they are elected in free and fair elections – ought to have a say in it. This includes diaspora communities. In our age of rapidly advancing technology and interconnectedness, this ought to be easier than it was 20 years ago when these discussions were in formative stages
These processes should be inclusive. Civil liberties and political rights, the sanctity of free and fair elections, as well as media freedoms are all under increasing assault in Africa. In such repressive and closing spaces, diaspora communities and their leaders can and should exhibit leadership. In the U.S. especially, it is important for taxpayers like us to ask critical questions of our elected representatives, and to put them on the spot, so that we do not become tacit financiers of human rights violations back home, or passive bystanders to the high-paid lobbyists who are on the payrolls of our oppressive rulers.
Clearly – be it Eswatini, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Sudan, or Tanzania – the “network of well-governed states” as envisioned in 2008 is yet to be realized. The policy approach that foresaw a new generation of transformational democracy will not be achieved without reforms or innovative policy approaches that withstand the merchants of doubt. It is time for leaders in the diaspora to stand up, to be heard, and to contribute convincingly to this hugely important endeavor.
Pearl Matibe is a Zimbabwean scholar, journalist and media commentator based in Washington, DC. You can follow her on Twitter at @PearlMatibe.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Vanguard Africa, the Vanguard Africa Foundation, or its staff.