Since the independence era on the continent, Africa has experienced various forms of violence and oppression along with cases of mass atrocities and genocide in some parts of the region. The people who call Africa home know first-hand the perils of such instability, which is often aggravated by the negative impact on social needs such as healthcare and education; along with the absence of a good strong leadership able to sustain a nation where warfare dominates or a post-conflict state.
It, therefore, comes as no surprise that research undertaken in Sub-Saharan Africa by Afro barometer indicates that the majority of African households support democracy, viewing it as the most suitable political option to guide the continent. Democracy I agree has been successful over the course of many years and has been fine-tuned to meet the needs of a modern world. For instance in Ancient Athens where democracy has its origins did not include women or slaves or uneducated men. In the west for a long period, it did not include women or people of color. As such the world has come a long way in the respect of all of humanity. Advocating that innate rights purported in many Constitutions is the right of all people, regardless of their culture, language or racial grouping.
However for democracy to be successfully implemented there needs to be peace as peace implies a state in which democracy can flourish on account of the stability within a nation. Democracy and peace need to work in union and the process is never done for any nation. It is for this reason that we celebrate both components each year, mindful of the strides made, cognizant of the ground lost if at all and anxiously engaged in committing ourselves to do better.
Building peace and sustaining democracy is an effort that is the responsibility of us, all from those in government, to civil society and the citizen itself as it is in our collective best interest. Success in peace and democracy makes room for development. Development is much needed in Africa, for the success of this generation and the ones to come to depend on it. And as we seek to influence and cement our presence in a family of nations, it is imperative that we develop our places and spaces in which to grow.
The process of development in Africa rests on the progress of democracy and peace. Education for all is becoming the norm, empowering our women and improving our healthcare services along with housing. As such on a daily basis, we see the eradication of poverty on our continent. The rest of the world is learning concerning Africa that peace is about more than just the absence of war and democracy is about more than one person one vote. Peace and democracy are about how much we develop and how much access we’ve created for ourselves to improve our lived experiences. The Bondei proverb rings true for all of Africa “sticks in a bundle are unbreakable.” This has been the undertaking of Africa concerning democracy and peace. It is a work in progress, but work that is bearing fruits already.