WEBINAR: West Africa: Is Democracy in Retreat?
According to the Freedom House ‘Freedom in the World Report 2021’, of the 12 countries with the most significant decline in democracy year-on-year, five were in West Africa. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s latest Democracy Index (2020) showed that only Ghana and Cabo Verde still qualify as fully-fledged democracies in the region.
Of the 12 countries with the most significant decline in democracy year-on-year, five were in West Africa.
Reports of widespread electoral irregularities, the arrest of pro-democracy activists and journalists, and the killing of peaceful protesters in demonstrations over the last three years in West Africa are grounds for concern. There is a growing distrust in the independence, neutrality and impartiality of election management bodies. The Kofi Annan Foundation seeks to work with States in the region to halt this trend – which could potentially lead to a return to instability and violence – and reaffirm their commitment to democracy and elections with integrity.
Our webinar on democratic trends in West Africa is a first step in putting this issue of concern on the public agenda.
Watch the recording:
On Wednesday, May 19, 2021, we held one of the #KAFDialogues series, ‘West Africa: Is Democracy in Retreat?’ Mohamed Ibn Chambas, outgoing Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, provided opening remarks.
Kofi Annan Foundation’s Special Advisor for Africa, Arnauld Akodjenou, moderated a panel featuring experts including Christopher Fomunyoh, Director and Senior Associate, Central and West Africa at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, Idayat Hassan, West Africa Director of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) – the region’s leading democracy-focused think-tank, and Ayisha Osori, Executive Director for the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).
Date: Wednesday, 19 May 2021
Time: 16:00 – 17:30 CEST
Moderated by: Arnauld Akodjenou, Special Advisor for Africa, Kofi Annan Foundation
Panel/Speakers:
- Mohamed Ibn Chambas, outgoing Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS),
- Christopher Fomunyoh, Director and Senior Associate, Central and West Africa, National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI),
- Idayat Hassan, Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD),
- Ayisha Osori, Executive Director for the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).
#KAFDialogues previous sessions
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