Political Parties in Africa: Challenges for Sustained Multiparty

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Political Parties in Africa: Challenges for Sustained Multiparty Democracy
(c) Election Monitoring and ECOWAS Assistance; (d) The Role of Armed Forces, the
Police and the Security Forces in Democracy; (e) Poverty Alleviation and Promotion
of Social Dialogue; (f) Education, Culture and Religion; (g) Rule of Law, Human
Rights and Good Governance; and (h) Women, Children and Youth.
Although the observance of these principles can be verified only by actual practice,
a number of ECOWAS interventions in support of the democratic principles are
laudable (e.g. in Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, the Gambia, Guinea etc.). Another important
point is that ECOWAS is conceived along the EU model whereby in the future
parliamentarians will be directly elected, thus creating a more representative body.
The implementation of such a principle would strengthen the role of political parties
in agenda setting as well as bringing the forum closer to the people.
ECOWAS also leads the way in promoting dialogue and cooperation between the
political parties, the media and civil society. In June–July 2005, approximately 250
representatives of political parties, the media and civil society from the 15 ECOWAS
member countries plus Mauritania, Cameroon and Chad met at the Palais des
Congrès in Cotonou, Benin. This forum was co-organized by the Sahel and West
Africa Club/Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Secretariat and the Strategic Watch Club for Peace in West Africa. This forum’s
main objectives were to facilitate dialogue and interaction at the regional level
between the three categories of actors as regards their respective and common roles
in the prevention of conflict, and in the building and strengthening of peace and
democracy at the local, national and regional levels. It also aimed to help establish a
network of these diverse actors and facilitate their concerted involvement in actions
to be carried out.
4.7 African integration into international political party unions
Ironically, African political parties have fared better in international party-to-party
contacts than in the regional equivalent. Currently, a large number of African political
parties are members of the so-called party internationals. This section illustrates the
involvement of African political parties in global party-based democracy associations
and networks.
4.7.1 The Democrat Union of Africa Dialogue Group (DUA/ADG)
The Democrat Union of Africa/Africa Dialogue Group is part of the International
Democrat Union (IDU), which consists mainly of conservative, Christian democrat