Yet, only the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has devoted serious energy and resources to defending democracy: it has played a major role in rolling back military dictatorships in West Africa and opposing military coups, though it has been less effective in preventing third-term bids by incumbents. Opiyo believes that this is whysocial media regulations are becoming necessary. The leaders of dictatorships are not outwardly identified as dictators when other people are addressing them. Additionally, the inabilitiesof many governmentsdemocratic in form and partially so in substanceto respond to the security challenges they face underminepopular support for a democratic trajectory. WebA military dictatorship is a type of dictatorship in which power is held by one or more military officers acting on behalf of the military. Conceived as the principal defenders of the 1979 revolution, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has evolved into an institution with vast political, economic, and military power. Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Sudan and Mali have all seen the government overthrown and replaced with a military junta. In Uganda,author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija posted comments that were critical of the government on social media, which led to his detention, during which he allegedly wastortured by security agents. Yet Rwanda is the exception rather than the rule. We should actually address the political system thats not working.. Both Twitter and Facebook accusethe Ugandan government of using social media asa tool politicians to manipulate public opinion, spread disinformation, and intimidate the opposition. But he says thatsociety is changing, he says, leaving such political elites in the dust. That said, there are two important differences between dictatorships and autocracies. Return to text. Hybrid dictatorships: What its like to live under a Dictatorship. By contrast, military regimes have a long history of abusing human rights while presiding over economic stagnation. In 2021, five sitting African heads of state had been in power for more than three decades each: Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in Equatorial Guinea, Paul Biya Egypt has close ties to Sudans military, which it sees as an ally against Ethiopia. Dictators are usually backed (especially financially) by groups of powerful people. This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) License. Dagalo, a one-time camel herder from Darfur, has vast livestock holdings and gold mining operations. Of these eight, half are small island states: Cape Verde, Mauritius, Sao Tome and Principe, and Seychelles. What is more, despite growing frustration with the way that multiparty politics is performing, on average democracies generate higher economic growth and do a better job of providing public services, according to a study at the US's Cornell University. Three years later, thatfigure had risen to 81 countries. Eritrean troopsovertly or tacitly supported by the Ethiopian governmenthave reportedly committed a range of atrocities, while Abiys government stands accused of attempting to starve large swathes of the Tigrayan population into submission. One person holds all of the country's power. An autocracy, monarchy, and dictatorship. As of 2020, there are 52 nations with a dictator or authoritarian regime ruling the country: Three in Latin America and South America, 27 in Asia and the Middle East, and 22 in Africa. A president who had ruled for three decades was killed on the battlefield, and his son was quickly installed in his place a violation of the Constitution. ", Angelo Izama, a political consultant and journalist from Uganda, describesthe move rather as an "overreaction" rooted in deeply-held patriarchal beliefs. The largest recipients were Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, Chad, South Sudan, and Niger. Mali also had a coup in 2012, and many Malians feel that after that, their country did everything the West demanded of it with regard to democracy, such as holding elections quickly. WebOne-party dictatorships became prominent in Asia and Eastern Europe during the Cold War as communist governments were installed in several countries. For some, this was evidence that the African Union has become little more than a weak and biased dictators club. As in other parts of the world, it thus remains unclear whether the increasing prevalence and importance of the internet and social media, in their totality, will have a beneficial, deleterious, or ambiguous effect on democracy. Russia, meanwhile, has long harbored plans to build a naval base capable of hosting up to 300 troops and four ships in Port Sudan, on a crucial Red Sea trading route for energy shipments to Europe. Following military takeovers in five different African countries in the past year, some have suggested that democracy may not be the best form of government on the continent. Four trends stand out: In its 2021 report, Freedom House rated only eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa as free. The challenge facing American and other policy makers is to support African governments in taking meaningful steps toward democracy while at the same time acknowledging the legitimate grievances that underpin so much of the insecurity. But some critics remain unconvinced. The terms "autocrat" and "autocracy" are often used interchangeably with "dictator" and "dictatorship". At his swearing-in, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera said he would lead a government that serves, not a government that rules. Many Africans, it seems, stand ready to push for the same from their own leaders and governments. Global Health Program, Innovating Solutions to the Climate Crisis, Virtual Event The United Arab Emirates, a rising military power that has expanded its presence across the Middle East and East Africa, has close ties to the Rapid Support Forces, which sent thousands of fighters to aid the UAE Taken together, these forces also drive internal displacement and outward migrationboth to other African countries and to Europe. First is that an autocracy nearly always focuses power in a single individual person, whereas dictatorshipssingle-party dictatorships in particularsometimes spread the power throughout a small group of people (say, the leaders of the dictator's political party). Arab Gulf countries have looked to the Horn of Africa in recent years as they have sought to project power across the region. In March 2021, Magufuli diedhis death was attributed to heart disease but was likely brought on by COVID-19. Poor leadership has been facilitated and enabled by weak institutions of government. Democracy is defined differentlyby the United Nations [PDF], academics [PDF], and politiciansand comes in various forms. By 2009, two-thirds were considered free or partly free.. "This method is gaining ground in countries whose leaders are desperately struggling to maintain their image and reputation on social media.". Millions of people across the Sahel region have been displaced, and thousands are dead and often, people say that politicians seem not to notice or care, driving fancy cars and sending their children to expensive foreign schools. Both sides have tens of thousands of fighters, foreign backers, mineral riches and other resources that could insulate them from sanctions. C.V. Starr & Co. That, along with the war in Ukraine and global inflation, sent the economy into free-fall. Germany's 49 public transport ticket, Buhari's government banned Nigerians from accessing the micro-blogging site. Not everyone supported the coup. His wealth is estimated to be approximately $600 million. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. January 29, 2021 at 5:00 a.m. EST. 2021) Min Aung Hlaing (born 3 July 1956) is a Burmese politician and army general who has ruled Myanmar as the chairman of the State Administration Council since seizing power in the February 2021 coup dtat. Laos (Lao People's Democratic Republic) North Korea. In 2021, social media shutdowns also took place in Burkina Faso, South Sudan, Senegal, Congo, Zambia, Chad, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Sudan. International powers insist that the military rulers should hold swift elections. Despite the fact that hundreds of people have been injured and at least 79 killed, the Sudanese people continue to demand their democratic rights. Protesters in Bamako wave Malian and Russian flags during a May demonstration in Bamako against French influence in the country. Nolan Quinn. The pro-military sentiment does not extend to Sudan. WebThe country earned an 11-point score declinethe largest in Freedom in the World 2021 and its status declined to Not Free. There, a popular uprising had succeeded in overthrowing a military dictator in 2019, but there has been sustained public outrage since last October when the military took back full control of the government, and detained the civilian prime minister who had served in what was supposed to be a power-sharing government. Five African Countries. With a population that is much younger than those of China, the US and the EU, there will be renewed interest in Indias potential to be a beacon of liberal values. Europe North America Oceania South America See also Coup d'tat List of coups and coup attempts by country List of revolutions and rebellions (chronological listing) References ^ "Military coup ousts Niger president Mamadou Tandja". A citizen casts her ballot during parliamentary elections in April 2021 in Praia, Cape Verde. But whats happening is the exact opposite, said Ornella Moderan, head of the Sahel Program at the Institute for Security Studies, which is based in Pretoria, South Africa. Vietnam. Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Sudan and Mali have all seen the government overthrown and replaced with a military junta. President Obiang gained power in 1979 after ousting his uncle, Francisco Macas Nguema, and sentencing him to death by firing squad. This third annual report monitors global progress towards the 2023 target for global elimination of industrially produced trans-fatty acids (TFA), highlighting achievements from the past year. Most African regional organizations have a stated vocation of promoting democracy. By Greg Miller. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? All three Sahelian countries with recent coups Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad are grappling with Islamist insurgencies that keep spreading, capitalizing on local tensions and grievances against political elites. June 2, 2022, Stopping Illegal Gun Trafficking Through South Florida, Blog Post In addition to executive authority, Putin also holds judicial and legislative power, which enables him to change the law to fit his agenda. The report states that in 2017, disinformation campaigns were carried out in 28 countries. A curation of original analyses, data visualizations, and commentaries, examining the debates and efforts to improve health worldwide. West Africa and East Africa both have mostly partially free regimes. On April 21, 1976, a group of four Greek Army colonels overthrew the caretaker government in a coup d'etat. First, apps are downloaded via email attachments, then the software instals itself and accesses microphones, cameras, and social media.". Examples include the Personalist/Military dictatorship of Pakistan from 1977 to 1988 and the Single-Party/Military hybrid that controlled El Salvador from 1948 to 1984. People living under a dictatorship are often persecuted for unethical reasons, including their religion, sexual orientation, or economic status. Put another way, Africa can and does reap a democratic dividend - the problem comes when supposedly democratic leaders start to use undemocratic strategies to keep themselves in power against the wishes of their people. All the attention goes to organizing periodic elections, which in most cases are rigged, he said. Back in Uganda,the government in the capital Kampala has also been trying to make itharder for Ugandans to get independent information online by imposing taxes on mobile data. He wouldn't be the only one in Africa. Paramilitary power brokers. Now, the central bank is back in the spotlight for its battle against inflation. India had been an exception to the rule that capitalism comes before democracy. If we wait until the next elections in 2025 to change leaders, our country will no longer exist, he said. Military dictatorship: 2. In turn, this is one reason that military juntas typically justify their actions by claiming that they were intended to reinstitute the rule of law and save democracy from itself. In others, it is because they have political projects they wish to complete that take longer than expected. Tellingly, where coups have been seen to usurp processes of democratisation, they have been deeply unpopular. By Greg Miller. African and international organizations have reacted with disapproving statements and sanctions, and in Mali, the threat that a regional standby force will invade but few take the latter very seriously. March 23, 2023 Will Merrow created the graphics for this article. Ghanas President Nana Akufo-Addo said on Friday, It represents a threat to peace, security and stability in West-Africa.. The RSF will want to interrupt major transport arteries including the road from Port Sudan to Khartoum.. More Africans live under fully or partially authoritarian states today than at most points in the last two decades. Meanwhile the U.S. said it will deploy additional capacities for possible evacuation and the U.N called for an immediate ceasefire. From 1967 to 1974, Greece was ruled by an extreme right-wing military dictatorship known as the Regime of the Colonels. Renewing America, Backgrounder My research suggests that the United States is investing in poor partners. Renewing America, Timeline Its isolation deepened over the conflict in the western Darfur region in the 2000s, when Sudanese forces and the Janjaweed were accused of carrying out atrocities while suppressing a local rebellion. In their first meeting, in April 2021, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari proposed to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the headquarters of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) be moved from Stuttgart, Germany, to an African country. Tanzania offers a stark example. But billions of dollars in loans and aid were put on hold after the 2021 military coup. WebAs of 2020, there are 52 nations with a dictator or authoritarian regime ruling the country: Three in Latin America and South America, 27 in Asia and the Middle East, and 22 in The Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary outfit with close ties to the Kremlin, has made inroads across Africa in recent years and has been operating in Sudan since 2017. There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian character. Denis Sassou Nguesso took power in 1997, and has remained the president of the Republic of Congo. when approximately half of the Dictatorships suffer from an obvious and significant imbalance of power. Ghanas President Nana Akufo-Addo said on Friday, It represents a threat to peace, security and stability in West-Africa.. In neighboring Guinea, some initially greeted the coup leader as a liberator, but many also shut themselves up at home, afraid for the future. Opposition figures including Tundu Lissu and Freeman Mbowe have called for a new constitution that limits presidential powers. There is this notion that bad elections are worse than no elections at all, said Ms. Moderan. This third annual report monitors global progress towards the 2023 target for global elimination of industrially produced trans-fatty acids (TFA), highlighting Other dictators across Latin America also released political prisoners and hastened transitions to democratic elections, a transformation Carter encouraged without sending Americans into combat. There is a consensus among UN and development agencies, international financial institutions, and many Africans that good governance is critical. by CFR.org Editors Hes also believed to have been well-paid by Gulf countries for the RSFs service in Yemen battling Iran-aligned rebels. The former Head of State says the continent cannot thrive politically, socially, and economically if Africans are subjected to despotism. Across Africa, long-standing dictators are losing their grip on power. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news, are each seeking to seize control of Sudan, has made inroads across Africa in recent years, removed Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, has vast livestock holdings and gold mining operations. Eswatini (previously Swaziland) has an absolute monarchy dictatorship in which the king rules over the country. November 4, 2022 by Lindsay Maizland President Vladimir Putin is currently serving his fourth term as President of Russia. Countries are responding to the World Health Organization (WHO) call to action by putting into place best-practice TFA policies. Dictatorships have shallow levels of freedom. and. Under the command of Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party faces a host of domestic and international challenges as it aims to bolster Chinas great-power status. Cairo has reached out to both sides in Sudan to press for a cease-fire but is unlikely to stand by if the military faces defeat. By contrast, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has been paralyzed by its inability or unwillingness to address the excesses of Zimbabwes ruling party, the Zimbabwe African National UnionPatriotic Front (ZANU-PF), because of its origins as a liberation movement. Ghanas President Nana Akufo-Addo said on Friday, It represents a threat to peace, security and stability in West-Africa.. The fighting, which began as Sudan attempted to transition to democracy, already has killed hundreds of people and left millions trapped in urban areas, sheltering from gunfire, explosions and looters. Yet, if a witchs brew of jihadi terrorists, criminal networks, and the disaffected destroy sitting governments, the human rights consequences certainly will be worse than the status quo. Meanwhile, the number of African countries that Freedom House rated not free has grown from a low of fourteen in 2006 and 2008 to twenty in 2021. Initial progress was remarkable: In 1989, two-thirds of African states were not free, as measured by Freedom House. Nobel Laureate Chinua Achebes words about his own country apply just as well to many other African countries: The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. Annual Lecture on China. According to Freedom House, Malawi was the sole country globally whose democracy strengthened during COVID-19 lockdowns, after it became the first African country to overturn a fraudulent election through legal means and conduct a free and fair follow-up election. Since its postwar founding, the UN agency has garnered both praise and criticism for its response to international public health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic. After all, the overthrow of civilian presidents was followed by street celebrations in some countries as citizens cheered the downfall of elected leaders. Other U.S. assistance programs support judicial independence, a critical component of functional democracy that is lacking in much of Africa. In general, the lack of accountability that occurs under dictators and military juntas leads to greater corruption and less effective economic policy. Mr Cond had also become increasingly authoritarian in the months leading up to the coup, jailing and exacting violence against his political opponents and anti-government activists. There are currently 22 dictators in Africa, some worse than others. In Sudan, for example, thousands of people took to the streets to protest against a military power grab in 2021 that undermined the supposed transition of power into civilian hands following the removal of long-time leader Omal al-Bashir in 2019. But the longer (the fighting) drags on the more likely it is we see major external intervention.. April 13, 2023 Rumors spread of a military takeover. Strong institutions of government are a common feature, acting as a bulwark against self-interested leaders, such as former South African President Jacob Zuma, who is now on trial for corruption. This is often done via questionable means, including intimidation, imprisonment (lawful or not), physical violence, or even assassination. Robyn Dixon. According to Opiyo, this involves using bots and trolls, computer programs, and paid users who use fake accounts to flood social media with posts favorable to the government. Again, the reasons were mainly political, withprotests, electionsand political unrest resulting ininformation shutdowns across the continent, with no end in sight: "It will take a while for those in power to understand that young people today expect them to sit down and talk to them,"political consultant Angelo Izama said. By 2021 this had dropped to 84, yet nearly half of the world's population was still classified as 'at risk' of malaria. In 2021, social media shutdownsalso took place in Burkina Faso, South Sudan, Senegal, Congo, Zambia, Chad, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Sudan. This is understandable, as the terms are very similar. 8. Soldiers received a rapturous welcome after they seized power in Guinea last year, This supporters of Mali's football team held a picture of coup leader Colonel Assimi Goita before a recent Africa Cup of Nations match, Sudanese protesters continue to risk their lives to demand an end to military rule, Rwanda markets itself as a high-tech hub but there is no room for criticism of the government, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. Others, such as Botswana, enjoy high levels of economic and social development. Nonetheless, the index provides an objective standard and vocabulary with which to assess and compare personal freedoms across Africa. However, within this category, increasingly populist governments are suppressing opposition groups, postponing elections, eliminating term limits, and abusing human rights to maintain power. While a large number of countries have The dilemma remains that Africa is buffeted by immediate security challenges that will not wait for a democratic culture to develop. Rwanda is an exception: its social development indicators rank higher than its human rights standing, and its president, Paul Kagame, is relatively young at sixty-three years of age. Here is a list of countries operating under a single-party dictatorship in 2021: China The Communist Party of China has been in political control for the last 71 Chadian soldiers walk by the coffin of the late Chadian president Idriss Deby during the state funeral in Ndjamena last April. Arab Gulf countries have looked to the Horn of Africa in recent years as they have sought to project power across the region. Conceptually, security assistance programs that engage military and police forcesare a greater challenge, especially given the alienation of many Africans from their governments. This publication is part of the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Project on the Future of Democracy. The military took advantage of public anger at a stolen parliamentary election and the governments failure to protect its people from violent extremists, and arrested President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and forced him to resign on state television. Robyn Dixon. Those who believe that he is a dictator argue that he imprisons his opponents, removed freedom of speechthe press can only publish what he allows them toand has restructured the government to give himself more and longer-lasting power. April 18, 2023, Backgrounder What Does the World Health Organization Do? Such turmoil will grow as elites compete for power and citizens resist oppressive regimes, and will, in turn, inhibit social and economic development, to the disadvantage of the continents rapidly growing population. In addition to concerns over growing corruption and rising insecurity, this undermined his personal legitimacy. Theres a belief that strongmen can better face the security risks, especially in the Sahelian countries where violence is spiraling, said Anna Schmauder, a research fellow focused on the Sahel in the conflict research unit of the Dutch think tank Clingendael.
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