Saly, Senegal, 9 July 2024—The West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), organized a critical dialogue on deepening democracy, good governance and inclusive political transitions in West and Central Africa. 

The forum brought together over 30 civil society representatives, who reflected on the series of unconstitutional changes of government (UCGs) and democratic setbacks across West and Central Africa.

Dr Chukwuemeka Eze, Executive Director of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, emphasized at the opening ceremony the need to promote the active participation of citizens and civil society organizations in finding lasting solutions to the evolving democratic decay and reversal of the good governance ethos in the region. “Civil Society Organizations are integral to mobilizing citizens to participate in transitions, politics and public affairs and invariably exert considerable influence over public policy, and they remain a veritable platform that bridges the gap between the political elite and the governed through various interventions that continually pressure the state to meet its development and security obligations to its citizens,” said Dr Eze.

The forum occurred against the backdrop of a troubling surge in unconstitutional changes of governments across Africa. Between 2020 and 2022 alone, Africa experienced six ‘successful’ military coups, most of which were in West and Central Africa — of which two were ‘coups within coups’ — and three attempted coups, representing an approximately 229% increase in coup incidence over the previous 20-year period. This trend underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to restore stability and democratic norms across the region.

Participants recognized the critical need to address the root causes of coups, which include the decline of public trust, inefficient service delivery, limited citizen participation in public and democratic processes, political grievances, power struggles, and governance deficits that lead to corruption and political instability. Simone Diouf, African Union Youth Ambassador for Peace, highlighted the profound repercussions of military takeovers on democracy and its impact on the region. “Military coups are not just political disruptions; they have profound repercussions on the lives of millions of our fellow citizens, especially the youth. They undermine trust in institutions, exacerbate economic crises, intensify social tensions, and compromise the democratic progress we have painstakingly achieved,” said Ms Diouf. “We must address the root causes and work together to strengthen our institutions, promote good governance, and ensure that the benefits of development are shared equitably.”

The two-day event featured a rich plenary and breakout discussions that placed people-centred governance at the centre of exploring avenues for promoting democracy and supporting inclusive transitions.

Njoya Tikum, Director of the UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa and Resident Representative for UNDP in Senegal stressed the necessity of integrating civil society organizations as a key pillar in a period of significant transitions in Africa. "In some countries, civil society organizations are key stakeholders in transitions, promoting responsive and inclusive governance approaches. It is therefore crucial to support CSOs and, by doing so, ensure that the voices of the people are duly considered in political transitions,” Mr Tikum remarked.

The forum was organized as part of the Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions (AFSIT) efforts to support countries undergoing complex political transitions, including countries experiencing or at risk of unconstitutional changes of government (UCG) in Africa. The event concluded with a strong call to action urging all stakeholders to support initiatives that strengthen democratic governance and foster inclusive transitions.

Some of the recommendations include the need for:

• Reinforcing democratic institutions to enhance resilience against unconstitutional changes and promote effective governance.
• Tackling underlying issues such as governance deficits, inequality, corruption, and economic exclusion to prevent future unconstitutional changes of governments and stabilize societies.
• Strengthening enforcement mechanisms for regional governance protocols and the constitution to prevent manipulation by ruling parties and ensure compliance with democratic standards.
• Developing proactive diplomatic strategies to anticipate and prevent UCGs rather than react to them post-incident.
• Comprehensive reforms in democratic practices and governance principles.
• Creating more opportunities and empowering women and young people to become active participants in shaping their societies positively, ensuring their voices are heard and valued in governance processes.
• Enhancing support for civil society organizations in their roles as watchdogs, advocates for human rights, and drivers of inclusive development and democratic values.
• Improving monitoring of commitments made by authorities during transitions to enhance accountability and ensure higher implementation rates, addressing challenges such as fake news through dedicated platforms.

Next Steps:

The High-level AFSIT dialogue on the Role of AU, RECs, and UN in West and Central Africa scheduled for 5th – 6th August 2024 in Dakar, Senegal, aims to build on the outcomes and recommendations from this and the previous dialogue for the Horn of Africa.

For further information, please contact:

• Fatma Ahmed, Specialist – Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions, Regional Programme for Africa, UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa | fatma.ahmed@undp.org
• Nadine Rugwe, Governance and Peacebuilding Advisor, UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa | nadine.rugwe@undp.org
• Ugochukwu Kingsley Ahuchaogu, Regional Communications Analyst, UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa and Head of Communications for UNDP in Senegal | ugochukwu.kingsley@undp.org

Notes for the Editors:

About WANEP

The West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) is a leading Regional Peacebuilding organization founded in 1998 in response to civil wars that plagued West Africa in the 1990s. Over the years, WANEP has succeeded in establishing strong national networks in every Member State of ECOWAS, with over 700 member organizations across West Africa. WANEP places particular focus on collaborative approaches to conflict prevention and peacebuilding, working with diverse actors from civil society, governments, intergovernmental bodies, women groups and other partners in a bid to establish a platform for dialogue, experience sharing and learning, thereby complementing efforts at ensuring sustainable peace and development in West Africa and beyond.

Learn more at https://wanep.org/wanep/

About AFSIT

The Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions (AFSIT) is a joint initiative by the AUC and UNDP to support complex political transitions in Africa, promoting democratic governance, peace and security in alignment with Agenda 2030 and 2063.

Learn more at https://www.soldiersandcitizens.org/en/afsit

About UNDP

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.

Learn more at www.undp.org/africa/waca

Explore the CSO Forum in Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjByXsL