Political scientists define a mature democracy as a country that has had two peaceful transfers of power from one democratically elected head of state to another. By that definition, only a handful of Africa’s 54 nations can be classified as full-fledged democracies.
Examples of countries that satisfy the litmus test; those that almost do; and those that have a long way to go:
BENIN: Yes. In 1991, Benin’s election brings Nicephore Soglo to power, marking first successful transfer of power in Africa from dictatorship to democracy. He hands over power to Mathieu Kerekou who wins elections in 1996 and 2001, who hands over power in 2006 to democratically elected Yayi Boni.
BOTSWANA: Yes. One of the most stable African nations. First general elections held in 1966. Since then, the country has had three peaceful transfers of power and numerous elections.
KENYA: No. High hopes accompanied this East African country’s first democratic change of presidents in 2002, but its next election, held last December, led to claims of rigging and triggered fierce ethnic clashes.
MAURITANIA: No. Foreign investment poured into Mauritania after last year’s first democratic election in over 20 years. But one-and-a-half years later, military generals declared a coup d’etat, placing President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi under house arrest.
ZIMBABWE: No. One of the continent’s abject failures. President Robert Mugabe has ruled since 1987. He is accused of rigging the 2002 election. Intimidation of voters led opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to drop out of the presidential contest though he is believed to have won the presidential polls, perhaps even a clear majority.
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