Africa experienced a range of remarkable political changes within the past year. What has been most impressive is the extent to which Africans are taking responsibility for the continent’s daunting problems and the noticeable growing momentum for democratic change, despite its many obstacles. Among the year’s highlights were progress in the peace processes in Congo and Sudan, an upsurge in violence ending with a peace agreement in Liberia, civil war and a tense cease-fire in Cote d’Ivoire, on-going negotiations in Somalia and democratic elections in Somaliland, flawed elections in Nigeria, and the inauguration of a democratic government in Kenya. The NED Africa program was involved in some way in all of these developments. In NED’s top priority countries in Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Liberia, NED’s African partners often played important supportive roles in the gains made towards peace and democracy.
The final details of Congo’s Transitional Program, which included an interim constitution, the unification of the army, the composition of the national transitional government, and national elections, were signed in Pretoria on March 6, 2003. Many NED grantees participated in the negotiations, and the constant pressure from civil society insured that democratic institutions and processes were included in the peace agreement. Civil society was recognized as a stakeholder in negotiating the agreement and was granted responsibilities in the transitional government. Individuals associated with NED grantees now head the electoral commission, the media observatory, and the Congolese House; and several others are members of the new parliament. Yet violence continues in eastern Congo, and NED devoted greater emphasis to supporting civil society efforts in some of the most difficult locations, such as Kindu. Throughout Congo, NED’s 45 active grantees are leading the efforts for conflict resolution, respect for human rights, ethnic tolerance, and are beginning to prepare for the upcoming elections.
Likewise in Sudan, although a peace agreement had not been signed by the end of 2003, peace now seems inevitable due to tremendous support and pressure from not only the international community, but also the efforts of Sudanese civil society. NED grantees have been directly involved in reconciliation among warring southern factions, and in the north, the activities of women, youth, academic, cultural and human rights groups all contributed to a steady shift in the discourse from war to peace. Independent media struggled against censorship, legal aid programs saved individuals from inhumane shari’a punishments, and conflict resolution groups took on the problems of the Nuba Mountains and Darfur. Sudan’s massive displaced population received growing attention from NED with human rights education and empowerment programs. Although they are the most marginalized group in Sudan, their stake and role in the transition will be critical.
In Liberia, civil war engulfed the country by June 2003, and the fighting even reached the streets of Monrovia. While eleven of NED’s twelve Liberian partners had their offices looted, they nevertheless carried on their human rights activities under death-defying circumstances. On August 12, 2003, President Charles Taylor was forced to flee the country and peace negotiations in Accra, Ghana, established a transitional government that was inaugurated on October 14. Liberian civil society, led by several NED grantees, made significant contributions to the conference and the establishment of democratic safeguards in the ensuing agreement, in addition to securing positions in the government on the electoral commission and the transitional parliament. They continue to fight both from within and outside the new government, which is still dominated by warlords and cronies of Taylor. Innovative projects by NED grantees included efforts aimed at reform of the security forces, human rights literacy training, and civic education targeting youth. In addition to continuing support to NED’s longstanding partners in Liberia, more support was directed to the scores of new democracy groups that have emerged.
NED partners also contributed to several important elections in Africa in 2003. In Nigeria, NED grantees once again led the Transitional Monitoring Group of domestic election observers and continued the pressure for reform afterwards, including the electoral law, budgetary process, and Muslim-Christian relations. NDI, IRI, CIPE and ACILS also fielded election observation missions and provided a wide range of other forms of assistance to the labor and business sectors. Somaliland held its first democratic presidential elections, and NED grantees fielded virtually all of the domestic observers, conducted electoral education campaigns, and IRI provided welcomed technical advice. In Somalia, meanwhile, NED grantees sought to preserve respect for human rights despite the slow progress of political negotiations and the persisting anarchy. Kenya’s new democratic government took power at the very beginning of the year, and once again, former grantees are leading the National Human Rights Commission, and serving other roles in the government. Both NDI and IRI provided critical assistance in the transition by advising the political parties on coalition-building and how to avoid political violence.
Finally, nearly 200 African democracy activists, including many of the Endowment’s African partners, met in Durban, South Africa, April 23 – 25 to hold the first conference of the Africa Democratic Forum (ADF). The group has established a network of democratic activists spanning the continent and is focused on injecting a democratic agenda into the governmental efforts of the Africa Union (AU) and the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). A complementary forum was held in Washington, DC on March 12 that raised funds for the ADF and honored retiring NED board member and Africa specialist Congressman Donald Payne. Across the continent, African democrats are making progress, despite many obstacles and frequent setbacks. As their efforts have coalesced, NED has helped Africans find their own, democratic solutions, and the momentum for change is clearly building.
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