With a very high telephone penetration rate in several countries, mobile money has a bright future on the African continent. During its general assembly held in July 2020, mobile telephone company, MTN Cameroon, decided to increase the share capital of Mobile Money Corporation (MMC) to 850 million CFA francs, a decision that laid the groundwork for the mobile banking segment in Cameroon.
The South African giant by this act, adheres to the regulations of the Central African Banking Commission (Cobac) relating to the prudential standards applicable to payment institutions, the texts of which in their article 2, stipulate that “the share capital minimum released from payment institutions is set at five hundred million CFA francs ”.
This is a basic amount that allows any service provider to perform payment services such as payments and withdrawals and cash withdrawals from a bank / payment account, direct debits, transfers or even credit banking.
Reports say the South African operator is currently developing a platform that will allow it to offer loan and savings services to its Mobile Money customers. To that effect, MTN Cameroon has already signed agreements with several microfinance institutions in Cameroon.
“The operator will only act as an intermediary for transactions. In concrete terms, the microcredits granted via mobile Mobile Money will not come from the operator’s funds, but from microfinance banks for savings ”, one of its officials said.
Note that since the adoption, on January 1, 2019, of the Cemac regulation relating to the payment service, payment services are no longer the preserve of credit and microfinance institutions. Mobile telephone operators can now constitute themselves as service providers via subsidiaries. However, providers can only provide their services through a bank and need the bank to meet regulatory requirements
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions. He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance. He is also an award-winning writer
The Ivorian based video on demand (VoD) startup StarNews Mobile has announced that its subscriber base has surpassed five million marks. StarNews which helps connect users with their favourite celebrities targets the mass market with a network of over 50 mobile channels offering celebrity-based content priced at low daily subscription rates.
StarNews founder Guy Kamgaing
Users can subscribe to their favourite celebrities’ channel through their operator for as low as US$0.10 per day. Once subscribed, they receive a video link via SMS to watch exclusive videos daily. The revenue generated from the subscription fee is then shared between the operator, the content provider and StarNews Mobile.
The startup deployed in Ivory Coast in partnership with operators MTN and Moov, and broke the one million subscriber mark back in April 2018. Since then it has launched in Cameroon, the Republic of Congo and South Africa, with a Nigeria rollout taking place soon.
Now the startup, which last year took part in the World Bank’s L’Afrique Excelle accelerator, has announced it has passed the five million subscriber mark. Its user base is growing by 23 per cent per quarter, and revenues are growing by 10 per cent over the same period.
“We are truly humbled that StarNews is resonating with millions of happy customers in Africa, and believe this bodes well for our continued expansion throughout Anglophone Africa later this year,” said founder Guy Kamgaing. Aside from Nigeria, StarNew is targeting 20 extra markets in total through its MTN partnership.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
Safaricom, east Africa’s leading mobile network operator (MNO) has raised the fund for its Spark Venture to $6 million for the second edition of the project which aims to invest the amount in several innovative Kenyan tech startups. The telecoms firm launched the Spark Venture Fund back in 2014 to invest and support late-seed, early growth stage companies with a presence in Kenya, whilst leveraging Safaricom assets to enable the companies to scale.
A US$1 million fund, it invested an average of US$175,000 in six Kenyan startups, namely Sendy, Lynk, Ajua, Eneza, iProcure and FarmDrive, and a second fund has now been announced. The new Spark Venture Fund is a bigger beast, however, standing at US$6 million, while Safaricom will also invest larger amounts. Recipients can expect to receive up to US$500,000 each and on a case-by-case basis larger amounts, in convertible notes or equity investment.
“The new allocation will go a long way in supporting the successful development and growth of high potential tech startups in Kenya. The fund will support startups through a combination of investment, business development support and technical assistance leveraging Safaricom’s unique capabilities, assets and market positioning,” the company said.
The Spark Venture Fund will focus on companies that align with Safaricom’s long-term corporate vision in education, healthcare and agriculture, though startups in other categories of strategic importance that are complementary to Safaricom’s offering will also be considered.
The startups will be identified and selected by fund manager S&B Ventures, and upon completion of a due diligence process be presented to Safaricom’s Investment Committee and Board of Trustees for funding consideration. Following investment approval, funds will be disbursed, and Safaricom will appoint an internal deal team to provide post investment support.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
Trails of protests and condemnations by Nigerians have literally forced the Ghanaian government to take a second look at the country’s controversial foreign investment which targeted non Ghanaian businesses in a move many saw as discriminatory. The decision which has helped deescalate the tensions brewing between both countries threatening the cordial relationship going back to decades. The move to review the investment law was made known by the Ghanaian President, Prof. Nana Akufo-Addo who expressed his government’s readiness to reconsider the one million dollars capital base for foreign traders, as enshrined in the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Act 2013.
President Nana Akufo-Addo
Ghahaian President Akufo-Addo gave the assurance during a meeting with the Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabimila who visited Ghana as part of efforts aimed at finding a diplomatic solution to the impasse. The House of Representatives had earlier assured Nigerian that they will embark on a ‘Legislative Diplomacy Bilateral’ meeting between Nigeria and Ghana to resolve the matter. The legislative diplomacy dialogue became imperative as the parliaments of the two countries sought modalities to resolve challenges and provide an enabling business environment for foreign traders, including Nigerians, doing business in Ghana.
This follows controversies emanating from the implementation of Ghana Investment Promotion law after protests by many Nigerians and condemnations trailing the Law which has been described as xenophobic in nature. President Akufo-Addo noted that the request by the Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representative “as it makes a lot of sense”. The President equally endorsed Gbajabimila’s proposal for the operation of a ‘Nigeria-Ghana Business Council’ established by law in both countries.
The president suggested the setting up of a joint ministerial committee between both countries to spearhead issues between Ghana and Nigeria. He told Gbajabiamila that he would also raise the issue with President Muhammadu Buhari when they meet at the ECOWAS Summit on Monday. “I think the way forward, which is really what matters in situations like this, is what is being suggested, one that I find very acceptable, the idea of legislation. “A Nigeria-Ghana business council that will superintendent trade matters and investment matters between our two countries may be long overdue.
“The time has come for us to take these worthwhile steps. “I suggested to Mr. President (Muhammadu Buhari) that it will be a good idea to set up a joint ministerial committee of ministers from both sides who will be responsible for shepherding Ghana and Nigeria issues, reporting to both presidents at any one time, and that is how they should be resolved. “I am hoping when I see him (Buhari) on Monday for the ECOWAS summit, we can advance these discussions and come to a final conclusion,” Akufo-Addo was quoted as saying. READ ALSO: Gbajabiamila asks Ghana to revisit law on $1m business capital Earlier, Gbajabiamila, told the Ghanaian President that he led a Nigerian parliamentary delegation to Ghana to make efforts through parliamentary diplomacy to resolve the issues at stake. According to him, the Nigerian parliamentary delegation has appealed to its Ghanaian counterpart for a possible review of the GIPC Act.
“We have proffered a few suggestions, one of which is the establishment of Ghana/Nigeria Business Council backed by legislation on both sides,” Gbajabiamila said. Meanwhile, a communiqué was issued jointly at the end of the bilateral meeting between members of the two Parliaments led by their respective Speakers, Gbajabiamila and Prof. Mike Oquaye. The lawmakers resolved that measures would be adopted to support law-abiding traders to properly regularise their business operations and also alleviate trade challenges occasioned by the alleged closure of the retail stores. The resolutions were reached in view of the ravaging impact of COVID-19 pandemic on businesses and families in both countries.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
The International Criminal Court at The Hague has come down heavily on the United States use of economic sanctions to achieve its desired aims. The Court specifically condemns the economic sanctions imposed by the US earlier today on the Court’s Prosecutor and a member of her Office. According to the Court, these coercive acts, directed at an international judicial institution and its civil servants, are unprecedented and constitute serious attacks against the Court.
The new measures, announced pursuant to the US Executive Order 13928 dated 11 June 2020, are another attempt to interfere with the Court’s judicial and prosecutorial independence and crucial work to address grave crimes of concern to the international community as mandated under the ICC Rome Statute.
These coercive acts, directed at an international judicial institution and its civil servants, are unprecedented and constitute serious attacks against the Court, the Rome Statute system of international criminal justice, and the rule of law more generally.
The Court continues to stand firmly by its personnel and its mission of fighting impunity for the world’s most serious crimes under international law, independently and impartially, in accordance with its mandate. In doing so, the Court benefits from the strong support and commitment of two thirds of the world’s States which are parties to the Rome Statute.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
There are expectations that Nigeria will return to the days of exporting not only crude oil but also refined petroleum products as was the case in the 70’s and 80’s when its refineries were all working at full capacity. This was made known by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) noting that with five built refinery plants across the country and seven in the making, Nigeria will be a net exporter of petroleum products in the next two years.
Director and Chief Executive Officer of DPR, Sarki Auwalu
The Director and Chief Executive Officer of DPR, Sarki Auwalu disclosed this in Lagos when the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed paid a working visit to the headquarters of the department. Auwalu assured that the flow of imports would reverse when the new refineries come on stream in the next two years.
He added that the feat would be achieved through the combined capacity of 375,000 barrels per day from 27 modular refineries, 650,000 barrels from the Dangote refinery and the 450,000 barrels from the government refineries. Specifically, he said the Dangote integrated refinery and petrochemical project with 650,000 barrels per day, the biggest in Africa, Waltersmith refinery with 7,000 capacity per day, and others that were almost near completion would come on stream.
The existing five included the four plants owned by the Federal Government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the one owned and operated by Niger Delta Petroleum Resources. Auwalu said that the aspiration of DPR was to grow the oil reserve to 40 billion barrels and gas to 210 trillion cubic feet.
He added that the department would also grow oil production from its current 2.4 million capacity to three million production capacity and as well reduced cost of production. “Currently, we have oil prospective license about 61, more than 2, 000 wells that are producing crude oil and condensate, we have about 125 wells producing gas. “We equally have 20 floating, loading and offloading vessels. 28 oil terminals, several float stations and oil and gas processing factories,” he said.
The director said that none of the functional oil facilities stopped work because of Covid-19 pandemic and the country maintained production and export. The director took the minister and the entourage to inspect server and control rooms in the headquarters where oil production, shipping and related activities were monitored real time.
In his remarks, the minister commended the management of DPR for the measures taken to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic to cripple the nation’s economy. The minister also commended the government agency for its role in sustaining peace in the host communities of Niger Delta which had resulted in a halt in pipeline vandalism and restiveness.
“What the DPR does goes far beyond technical because their engagement of the oil producing communities is very key. When we came in 2015, production had dipped because of the restiveness in the Niger Delta. It is not by accident that we have some stability and modicum of peace in that area today. It is because of the policies that have been put in place to continue to engage the communities,” he said.
He also commended the DPR for the accountability it exhibits in the management of the flow of revenue to the nation, which goes straight into the Treasury Single Account.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
African countries are fast signing up to a ground-breaking initiative which aims to secure at least 220 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine for the continent, once licensed and approved. All 54 countries on the continent have expressed interest in COVAX, a global initiative which is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The partners are working with governments and manufacturers to procure enough vaccine doses to protect the most vulnerable populations on the continent. Through the Gavi-coordinated COVAX Facility, the initiative seeks to ensure access for all: both higher and middle-income countries which will self-finance their own participation and lower-middle income and low-income countries which will have their participation supported by the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC).
Dr Richard Hatchett, Chief Executive Officer, CEPI
There are eight countries in Africa that have agreed to self-finance their vaccine doses through the COVAX Facility. This expression of interest will turn into binding commitments to join the initiative by 18 September, with upfront payments to follow no later than 9 October 2020.
“Equatorial Guinea has signed up to COVAX as it’s the most effective way to ensure that our people can access COVID-19 vaccines,” said Hon Mitoha Ondo’O Ayekaba, Vice Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Equatorial Guinea. “We are concerned as some wealthier countries have made moves to secure their own interests. We believe that through this initiative we can access successfully tested vaccines in a timely manner and at lower cost.”
In addition, 46 countries in Africa are eligible for support from the financing instrument, the COVAX AMC which has raised approximately US$ 700 million against an initial target of securing US$ 2 billion seed funding from high-income donor countries, as well as private sector and philanthropists by the end of 2020.
“COVAX is a ground-breaking global initiative which will include African countries and ensure they are not left at the back of the queue for COVID-19 vaccines,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “By reaching beyond the continent to work together with other governments and manufacturers on a global scale and pooling buying power, countries can protect the people most vulnerable to the disease in Africa.”
CEPI is leading COVAX vaccine research and aims to develop up to three safe and effective vaccines which will be made available to countries participating in the COVAX Facility. Nine candidate vaccines are currently being supported by CEPI; two are currently being tested in South Africa, in addition to other regions around the world.
“It’s critical that countries in Africa participate in vaccine trials, in addition to the clinical trials taking place in other regions of the world,” said Dr Richard Hatchett, Chief Executive Officer, CEPI. “Testing vaccines on the continent ensures that sufficient data is generated on the safety and efficacy of the most promising vaccine candidates for the African population so they can be confidently rolled out in Africa once vaccines are approved. CEPI is investing in the research and development of a diverse range of vaccine candidates, with the aim of delivering safe and effective vaccines to those who need them most through COVAX.”
Through COVAX, vaccines that have passed regulatory approval or WHO prequalification will be delivered equally to all participating countries, proportional to their populations. Health workers and other vulnerable populations will be prioritized and then vaccine availability will expand to cover additional priority populations in participating countries.
African countries will need to have in place the right systems and infrastructure to define the regulatory and ethical pathways for a quick approval of a candidate vaccine. They will need to have logistics and supply chain systems which can reach not only the traditional target populations for routine immunizations and campaigns but be ready to vaccinate a much larger target population.
“To roll out a vaccine effectively across countries in Africa, it is critical that communities are engaged and understand the need for vaccination,” said Dr Richard Mihigo, Programme Area Manager, Immunization and Vaccine Development, Programme Area Manager, Immunization and Vaccine Development, WHO Regional Office for Africa. “It is important to already start working with communities to prepare the way for one of the largest vaccination campaigns Africa has ever experienced.”
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
One of Nigeria’s leading conglomerate Bua Group has entered into an agreement with Axens Group of France to build a mega refinery in Nigeria. The refinery according to insiders with knowledge of the project will go head-to-head with Nigeria’s other large scale refinery project, being built by the Dangote Group.
Chairman of BUA Group Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu
The project will be executed by France’s largest hydrocarbons group Axens which has won the contract to license key refinery technologies to one of Nigeria’s leading industrial conglomerates, the BUA Group. According to the Chairman of BUA Group Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu the economics of the project are a ‘no-brainer’: “Nigeria imports 90% of its petroleum products. We spend 35% of our foreign exchange on importing petroleum products.” The new refinery, with a capacity to produce 200,000 barrels per day (bpd), should be operational in 2024. By comparison, the Dangote Group project will produce 600,000 bpd.
The bidding process was managed by energy consultants KBR, which will also be handling subsequent rounds for the engineering and construction phase, currently underway. The refinery will be built using an undisclosed mix of debt and equity, with several development and commercial banks in negotiations with BUA Group.
It comes as a shot in the arm for the French economy, reeling from Covid-19 shutdowns and weeks of strikes prior to the pandemic.The contract was signed in Paris between BUA Group Chairman Abdulsamad Rabiu, and the CEO of Axens, Jean Sentenac, in a ceremony presided over by France’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, Franck Riester.
France’s Axens headed off strong competition from the US company Honeywell UOP, which got through to the final round, according to sources close to the bid. “President Macron has given special determination and support to this project,” Rabiu was quoted as saying. Interestingly, Rabiu is also the Chairman of the Macron-initiated Franco-Nigerian Investors Club.
For Axens CEO Sentenac, the technologies that Axens is licensing will give Lagos the chance to breathe easier: “We are the world leader in the Euro 5 fuel standard; this has already reduced car pollution in Europe by a factor of 5 or 6, and it also allows Nigeria to start using the latest generation of fuel efficient engines, the first step towards fighting global warming.” The plant also has the ability to refine biofuels. Rabiu believes his investment in sustainability — “It was not cheap!” — will pay off in the long run, as new fuel standards continue to evolve along with the climate crisis. “It is in the DNA of BUA Group; look at our cement plants, the most sustainable in Nigeria, same with our sugar plants.”
“This is the hard part, we cannot get this wrong”, says Rabiu. “It is like in an aeroplane, you always look at who built the engine, it is the most important thing”.
Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness Riester believes this club is, “one of the things that will help build up the necessary intrapersonal relationships” between industrial players in the two countries, part of a wider French strategy of greater engagement in anglophone Africa.
The new refinery project sets up a direct competition with Nigeria’s other large refinery project, piloted by the Dangote Group that says it will be operational by early 2021. For Rabiu, there is space for another project, despite the growing international glut of refinery projects, the tapering of transport fuel use globally, and the strong local competition, partly because of the projection for fuel use in Nigeria itself. The country today uses around 500,000 to 550,000 barrels a day of petrol. And partly because of demand in the region. The project is sited on the waterfront in Akwa Ibom State. “We will have the marine infrastructure for easy export”, says Rabiu, “And the external market for polypropylene [the other major product from the refinery] is very strong”.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the 8th President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has promised Africa, and Africa’s development partners that his best is yet to come. He made this known in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire during his swearing in ceremony as the 8th president of the African Development Bank (AfDB). Adesina reached out to stakeholders of the Bank, the management and staff of the Bank, imploring everyone to “let us move forward, driven by the power of our mission, inspired by the primacy of our vision and emboldened by the strength of our togetherness.” He added that “today, a rainbow stretches from the 81 member countries of the African Development Bank across the deep blue skies of Africa…The future beckons us for a more developed Africa and a much stronger and resilient African Development Bank.”
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank
The swearing-in ceremony, which took place at the Bank’s Abidjan headquarters, was presided over by the newly appointed Chair of the Board of Governors, Ghanaian Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta, who administered the Oath Office. Several presidents attended the virtual ceremony live and sent messages of support. They included Paul Kagame of Rwanda, the president of Liberia, George Weah, Alpha Conde of Guinea, Guinea Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and Denis Sassou Nguesso of Republic of Congo. Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Atiku Abubakar were also present.
Ofori-Atta was assisted by the past Board of Governors Chair, Ivorian Planning Minister Niale Kaba, and the Bank’s Secretary General Vincent Nmehielle who read the resolution of the Board confirming Adesina’s election. On 27 August 2020, Governors of the 54 African regional member countries and 27 non-regional member countries of the African Development Bank Group unanimously voted in the eighth President for a second five-year term on the final day of the 2020 Annual Meetings.
Ofori-Atta said he had no doubt that Africa’s premier development bank had secured the right leadership. “We need to continue to steer and direct the Bank’s efforts to setting global standards of excellence, integrity, commitment to service and responsiveness to the challenges of the continent,” he said. “You earned a new mandate in a most historic fashion,” he told Adesina.
Adesina’s first five-year term in office focused on the bold new agenda for the Bank Group based on five development priorities known as the High 5s: Light up and Power Africa; Feed Africa; Industrialize Africa; Integrate Africa; and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa.
Today, that ambition was being achieved, Adesina stated, adding that 18 million Africans had gained access to electricity, 15 million had benefited from investor finance, 60 million enjoyed new access to water, 141 million people had improved agricultural technologies for food and 101 million people had access to improved transport from infrastructure. “We have collectively charted a new path for Africa…We have achieved collectively impressive results,” Adesina said.
Going forward in his new term, he would focus on building on the collective achievements and a stronger and more resilient African Bank Group. “Our focus will be on institutions, people, delivery and sustainability. Together we win for Africa,” Adesina said. “Yet again, let us move forward, driven by the power of our mission, inspired by the primacy of our vision and emboldened by the strength of our togetherness,” he added. Representatives of the Nigerian and Côte d’Ivoire governments as well as Bank Executive Directors and senior management also attended the ceremony.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
By Tierno Monénembo, Véronique Tadjo and Eugène Ebodé.
Yet the manoeuvre is clear, and it consists of tinkering with the constitution to remain in power either by a direct plebiscite through a referendum or disguised through a gagged, frightened and rubber-stamp parliament.
Tierno Monénembo, Guinean writer
The Ivorian President is reneging on his 15 March declaration in which he promised to step down from power and is thus twisting his country’s constitution solely for personal benefit.
Legal interpretations are divided and jurists on all sides of the debate are contradicting each other, throwing the ranks of democrats into unprecedented disarray. Yet the manoeuvre is clear, and it consists of tinkering with the constitution to remain in power either by a direct plebiscite through a referendum or disguised through a gagged, frightened and rubber-stamp parliament.
Véronique Tadjo Ivorian Writer
These repeated constitutional modifications are an abuse of power, and their authors are predators and usurpers. The die is cast the moment the constitution is flouted and the red line drawn by the national conferences of the 1990s is clearly crossed. We should fear for the worst. And the worst has a name. It is called the single party, parliament without opposition, president-for-life. We all know those evils.
So, from now on, let’s express our disapproval loud and clear. Let’s reject any idea of a third term anywhere in Africa! We remember Nelson Mandela, who after all the sacrifices made for his people, promised to serve only one term and he kept his promise despite the strong pressure exerted on him by his party and unscrupulous advisers.
Eugène Ebodé, a Cameroonian writer
It is clear that the new attempt at usurpation and confiscation of power in Abidjan will be emulated if it succeeds. Guinea’s President Alpha Condé, who no longer feels alone in his desire to succeed himself, hurried to send a warm message of congratulations to his Ivorian colleague.
In Niamey, President Mahamadou Issoufou must be asking himself if it would better to do what his peers are doing. As for Paul Biya and Marshal Idriss Deby, they have stomped all over their own constitutions. While Joseph Kabila played, in a Russian fashion, with the supreme law in Kinshasa, in Dakar, the temptation will now be great for Macky Sall to follow the path of constitutional manipulation created as a monopolistic means of holding on to power.
We say No to the return of unlimited power, whether by tanks or by pen! We must act before it is too late. Ouattara’s and Condé’s unacceptable candidacies are a challenge to us all. It is important for African and international opinion to see the seriousness of the threat and react together so that democracy in Africa does not become a sham but instead a tangible reality based not on the goodwill of individuals but on the rule of law and the sanctity of the constitution.
The Economic Community of West African States, the African Union and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie sanctioned Mali after the military coup. But why are they turning a blind eye to the constitutional putsches underway in Abidjan and Conakry? Do these institutions want us to believe that the coup de force of the civilian politicians is more appropriate than that of the senior officers?
This ambiguous attitude is highly damaging to the democratic process that began in the early 1990s.
The international community is in danger of hurting progress that contributes to establishing true and lasting democracy in Africa: a democracy based on free and transparent elections, a democracy where changes in power are carried out smoothly in strict compliance with established rules.
We now need to warn the so-called committees of experts that are supposed to work on constitutional reforms and that are so easily convinced or coaxed. The proof of this is the removal of the age limit in the new Ivorian constitution, which allows Henri Konan Bédié, who is 86 years old, to run for the presidency. What disaster does this lead us to? The denial of democracy and the destruction of any future for the young people whose prospects have been sacrificed in African countries anesthetized by an oligarchy that knows no counterweight, no soul and no opponent.
If we are not careful, soon presidents will no longer be satisfied with modifying constitutions, they will make lawlessness or the lack of change in power the norm of public life.
Let’s make sure it doesn’t come to that!
Tierno Monénembo, Guinean writer,Véronique Tadjo Ivorian Writer and Eugène Ebodé, a Cameroonian writer.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
