It would be wrong to underestimate the latest Mo Ibrahim Foundation report on governance which was published last December and which mentions hindsight – an edifying first! – governance in Africa (s) for the first time in more than ten years. This alert has every reason to arouse our concern. And first of all for the Africans themselves. As a counterpoint, the 2020 electoral meetings in a dozen countries of the continent saw last year the reappointment of almost all the heads of state for new mandates, with sometimes some constitutional contortions allowing to extend again and again the conduct of power by the same. To the sustainably youngest continent in the world corresponds an older ruling class on the planet: is this really reasonable?
The representativeness process questioned
In 2021, new electoral deadlines have been held and will be held in countries whose median age varies between 24 and 15 years. (…) Some of those competing for mandates are well over 73 years old. Seniority is not a barrier because one cannot make a ridiculous trial against age. However, this generational “big gap” deeply questions the democratic and representativeness process. And this is not insignificant, because it will not be without consequences for the next terms of office, in 4, 6 or 7 years as long as those in progress or to come in the very short term can calmly come to an end.
A health blow and above all an economic disaster
For the time being, there is not really a direct health disaster linked to Covid-19 in Africa (s), where there have been fewer than 96,241 deaths since the start of the pandemic where, at the global level, there are some. has 2,497,814 as of February 25, 2021. That said, the effect of the economic slowdown is strongly felt and several observers and institutions, including the OECD, the World Bank, AFD and others, point to the danger of a very strong progression of poverty. Where already 40% of the population lives under the condition of “extreme poverty”, that is to say with less than 1.70 euros per day, 40 countries have entered into recession in the last 14 months. and nearly 50 million people who have dived. For example, it should be noted that 90% of Malians today live on less than 2 euros per day.
A major asset: the continental free trade area
But the continent refuses fatalism and, after a legitimate hesitation last July, the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (Zlecaf) was made operational from 1is January 2021. This is great news for 55 countries and more than 1.3 billion people. Like ECOWAS (West Africa) which has largely proven its worth, this opening up of the internal market can make the use of new digital technologies an asset for the development of Africa. (s) who will have nothing to envy to what is happening on other continents. Because making trade more fluid and more secure means accelerating the emergence of entrepreneurs and stimulating a private sector that provides productive jobs. From democratic renewal to economic hopes, Africa is on the way to building a future for itself.
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