Democracy is the government of the people by the people , for the people and in Africa’s match to democratic system of government a lot has happened which today makes the continent lucidly determined to dump military rule and support civil rule as practiced in Europe, America, Asia and other continents of the world.
Historically few countries have in recent time being victims of maladministration which resulted into army incursion to body polity of the nations.
We should not forget the Burundi Imbroglio which prompted international forces to assist in bringing war-torn area to better place for citizenry.
The Burundi Parliament unanimously rejected the proposed all force called MAPROBU as an alternative invasion force, whereas chapter 7 of UN Security Council Resolution conferred mandatory force to free citizens of intertribal war within a country.
In same vein, the AU Article 4(b), gave power to the right of the Union to intervene in a member state pursuant to a decision of the assembly based on reports of war, crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.
Consequently, the Zimbabwe issue clamoring on its President Robert Mugabe failure to vacate the seat when his opponent, Leader of MBC named Tsvangirai won majority in the election and House of Assembly.
The country was faced with economic sanctions yet Mugabe refused to hand over power up to date which brings to memory corruption in government.
The Gambia issue is another case study which prompted ECOWAS to use force and sworn in Barrow as the Winner of the election, thus ousting Yaya Jahmeh. It was the ECOWAS treatry that paved ways for support to finally bring back democracy to that country instead of civil war.
The case of Ivory Coast, Niger Sudan and Congo are areas where the AU has to use force to bring back democracy with support granted by UN to AU in maintaining peace in time of war.
Libya of the famous military ruler Muhammad Gadafi who was ousted in power, killed in a war the opposition fought to bring democracy to Libya supported by AU and the United Nations.
The Somalia war torn area could never see peace if AU fails to mobilize troops, assisted by the UN to bring the country back to normal.
Ipsofacto, the Mali and Central African Republic witnessed supports granted by Au and UN to forcibly bring peace to the area when it was highly imperative that to end war lasting peace must be sought hence kudos must be given to Au for its braveliness attitude in time of war, crimes, genocide against brothers.
Reports on the AU states that her economy fails from $38.4billion and $25billion respectively between 2008 and 2010.
Major investors in Africa are China, India and Brazil whose companies are operating in the continent
In Nigeria by 2012 Shell’s revenues stood at $417.2b compared to Nigeria’s GDP of $244b, Angola $194.3b and Gabon GDP of $17.1b
While Nigeria lost $6.8b and Angola $4.2b between 2010 and 2012, bringing to memory the issue of corruption in governance from Blackman” perspective case study.
Characteristics of Good Governance in International Affairs
Any analysis of good governance in International Affairs must take into cognizance
- Governance between the governments and citizens.
- Governance between the private and public sector.
- Governance between elected Assembly Members and executives Governors and President.
- Governance between the markets, values and leaders.
- Governance between that will show case the legislative that pre-determined roles given rights to independent of the third arms of government.
- Government that appoints serving Commissioners at states and Ministers at Federal level must work harmoniously with her leaders to fostering good economic planning and implementation.
- Miscellaneous area must be harnessed to incorporate services of the Armed forces, police, customs, immigration and prisons with a view to maintaining law and order enacted by the legislative councils in the Federal, states and local government areas.
Good governance guarantee outstanding relationship with the legislative, executive, judiciary and the general public, thus proper accountability, provisions of essential daily needs like food, clothing and shelter are genuine attributes of good governance in a democratic norms and standards, and with regards to granting citizens human rights enshrined in constitution of any government be at Federal, States and local administration.
However, in a democratic and standardized political reforms, good governance must protect the following attributes as enshrined by United Nations Charter, African Union, and ECOWAS
QUALITIES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE
- Must be transparent.
- Must be accountable
- Must be responsible
- Must be above corruption
- Must be undertakers of the citizen’s needs
- Must be service delivery
- Must be operating under Rule of Law
- Must be favourism
- Must be supportive of Citizen’s voluntary rights
- Must be Non-aggressive to issues affecting citizens.
- Must be above nepotism
- Must be above ethnic conflicting syndrome
- Must be reliable, dependable to citizens plights
- Must be influential on matters affecting the people
- Must be of social obligations that bring succor to the people its governed
- Must be relatively nonpartisan, problem eradication and dynamism in matters affecting the people and the arms of government.
- Must be of social and cultural rights to citizenry
- Must be b above sycophancy and indispensable
- Must be religiously free for citizens to select any form of religion that suit the citizens.
