The West African Elders Forum, (WAEF), has urged African leaders to respect constitutions and put citizens’ welfare, peace, and security at the centre of governance.
According to a statement by the forum’s Communication Officer of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Wealth Ominabo, the forum gave the advice during a webinar, themed: ‘Making meaning of democratic reversals in West Africa’.
Eight countries in West and Central Africa have witnessed coups in three years, with Gabon being the most recent.
The Forum examined the challenges to democratic governance in the region and how best to advance democracy amid the growing trend of coups. It urged governments, regional and sub-regional bodies to invest more in citizen-centric initiatives that would help serve as a buffer against threats to democracy.
WAEF also called for strengthening democratic frameworks in countries to ensure accountability and guarantee free and credible elections.
The Forum said the democratic decline in the region, owing to the poor state of governance, has led to frustration and a trust deficit between citizens and governments. They called for the rethinking of democracy in the continent to address citizens’ contemporary realities.
Contributing to the discussion, former vice-president of the Gambia, Fatoumata Tambajang, attributed democratic reversal in the region to political leaders’ disregard for normative values of democracy and inability to deliver on their political promises.
Also, former Director of the Department of Political affairs, Peace and security at the Economic Community of West Africa States, Remi Ajibewa, said ECOWAS should focus more on citizens than incumbent presidents.
The former director highlighted the initiatives ECOWAS has undertaken to safeguard democracy in the sub-region, adding that safeguarding democracy in the continent requires collective effort. He urged all stakeholders to work towards protecting and promoting democracy in the region.
