Africa has drawn greater than its usual portion of international attention recently; unfortunately, this has mostly been due to negative factors such as the ethnic violence in Kenya and scandal in South Africa; as well as electoral developments in Zimbabwe, where the balance of positive and negative are yet to be determined. The Countries at the Crossroads survey observes the fragility of institutions and governance across seventeen nations in Sub-Saharan Africa. Though many states are much improved, the majority remain threatened by persistent corruption, weak rule of law, and political repression. Below are some links to recent developments on the governance front across the region.
Beginning with the story grabbing headlines at the moment, the wait for election returns in Zimbabwe continues as embattled president Robert Mugabe fights to remain in power. Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai claims to have cleared the 50% threshold necessary for a majority victory, though all indications point toward a massaged vote count that will force a run-off with Mugabe. Tensions are high and opposition supporters are bracing for a possible crackdown as Mugabe tightens the screws following the March 28th vote. Four American citizens were arrested on Thursday, and two individuals – a New York Times journalist and a democracy assistance worker –remain in custody without any public acknowledgment by the Mugabe regime. As a testimony to the historic significance of the election, it has already been confirmed that the ruling ZANU-PF lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1980; however, the Financial Times notes that internal disputes within the MDC resulted in the attainment of a strong plurality rather than an outright parliamentary majority.
While it appeared that the fragile truce mediated by Kofi Annan in Kenya was on the verge of collapse, this week the main rival groups reached a compromise on forming a new coalition government. Many international organizations, such as Berlin-based Transparency International, have criticized factions loyal to both President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister-designate Raila Odinga for the sluggish pace in forming a government, thereby furthering weakening state institutions and creating a power vacuum in which corruption can thrive. For in-depth coverage, Human Rights Watch recently published “Ballots to Bullets,” a comprehensive report on the governance challenges facing Kenya in the wake of the ethnic violence following the disputed December 27th general elections. On a separate note, the IMF recently released a review of fiscal transparency in the country, an area in which gains will be fundamental to effectively combating the country’s sustained high levels of corruption as well as assuring Kenya’s fractious groups that revenues are being distributed equitably.
Inconsistent anticorruption efforts appear to remain the name of the game in Nigeria following the January sacking of Nuhu Ribadu, the young, crusading head of the nation’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The move was roundly condemned by Human Rights Watch as “a thinly veiled attempt to gut the only law enforcement agency that has tried to hold prominent ruling party politicians to account for their many crimes.” Nonetheless, the EFCC made good on a promise made by Ribadu in 2007 by recently opening a corruption probe against former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Ironically, the EFCC was formed in 2002 at the behest of Obasanjo in his internationally-encouraged effort to fight the endemic corruption that has plagued Nigeria throughout its existence. Transparency International offers fresh analysis of Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts following the election of President Umaru Yar’Adua in April, 2007. Two recent articles in the FT also represent the sporadic nature of anticorruption efforts: last week two ministers were fired over corruption allegations, but this week the privatization of a major steel plant was halted following the discovery of major abuses.
All is not gloom and doom, however, as Mozambique continues to make strides toward boosting state capacity and improving governance. Recently, the Mozambican government proposed increasing the number of municipalities in the country from 33 to 43, thereby devolving certain powers to local authorities and encouraging improvements in local governance. Furthermore, in a move that will undoubtedly please the World Bank’s “Doing Business” researchers, the Minister of Industry and Trade recently issued a decree that will streamline the registration process for business by creating one-stop shops for the issuance of licenses and permits.
In other encouraging legislative news in the region, the government of Zambia is moving to implement a Freedom of Information law that will strengthen the practice of journalism and hopefully provide a useful tool for all citizens to hold the government accountable. Zambia has also been active on the anticorruption front, summoning ex-President Frederick Chiluba to the Task Force on Corruption to answer allegations of rigged commodities deals during his reign in the 1990s. Such developments are certainly welcome, but as Michael Gerson observed in an op-ed in the Washington Post, rule of law remains fundamentally weak in Zambia, particularly protections for women and girls.
Several other miscellaneous links provide useful information about cross-border issues. Transparency International released a report discussing the variety of corruption-mapping tools being used in sub-Saharan Africa. The World Bank, meanwhile, surveys the region’s general macroeconomic prospects and emerges cautiously optimistic. On a similar note, a report from the Center for Global Development affirms that growth prospects have improved, and gives significant credit to increased democratic stability. Finally, another World Bank report examines a very topical issue: the lessons China’s development strategy holds for African nations.
Map Credit: NPR
