Author(s)

Olaoye Elijah Olawale

Affiliation(s)

Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria.

Corresponding Author

Olaoye Elijah Olawale

ABSTRACT

The democratic process that was triggered in Africa in the 1990s, especially in Francophone West Africa is choked with various problems. Few years ago, many African countries were either under military regimes or one party system. Today, the continent has witnessed a positive change at least in form and nomenclature with the exception of few countries where there were military coups recently namely: Mali, Niger Republic, Burkina Fasso. From Gambia to Benin Republic to Togolese Republic, countries have adopted democratic constitutions through popular elections. Yet in the course of transition through national conferences or military regimes to democratic regimes, most of these countries find themselves at crossroads. Democratization is synonymous to democratic consolidation which must entails guarantee of free and fair elections, fundamental human rights, freedoms, participation and rule of law. This paper discusses transitions to democracy of some francophone West African countries and analyses the problems confronting its development process. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex process of democratization in Francophone West Africa. 

KEYWORDS

Democratization; Francophone West Africa; Democratic transitions; Obstacles

CITE THIS PAPER

Olaoye Elijah Olawale. Democratisation: transitions and obstacles amongst Francophone West African countries. Journal of Trends in Arts and Humanities. 2025, 2(1): 1-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61784/jtah3036.

REFERENCES

[1] Ake C. The Feasibility of democracy in Africa, Keynote address at a Symposium on democratic Transition in Africa organized by the Centre for Research. Documentation and University Excchange, University of Ibadan, 1992: 16-19.

[2] Badie Hima cited in State of Democracy in West Africa. The State of Democracy in West Africa, Dakar, Goree Institute, 2009: 311

[3] Cohen C. Communism, Fascism, Democracy, The Theoretical Foundations, New York: Random House, 1962.

[4] The New York Times. 2024. https/www.nytimes.com.

[5] Smith BC. Understanding Third World Politics, New York Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.

[6] Ralph Uweche. Africa Today, 2nd edition. 1991.

[7] Schraeder Peter J. African Politics and Society. Belmont: Wadsworth, 2004

[8] Omitoogun W, Ongu-Otitete K. The National conference as a model for democratic transition: Benin and Nigeria. IFRA-Nigeria, African Book Builders, 1996.

[9] Haut Conseil de Republique. 2024. http://www.cour-constitutionnelle-benin.org/hcr/presentation.htmlaccessed.

[10] Jibrin I. From Political Exclamation to Popular Participation : Democratic transition in Niger Republic. Democracy Transition in Africa, 1992.

[11]  Schraeder Peter J. African Politics and Society. Belmont: Wadsworth, 2004. Meredith, M. 2nd Edition, The State of Africa, Free Press, London, 2006.

[12] Meredith, M. The State of Africa, Free Press, London, 2006.

[13] Ake C. The Feasibility of democracy in Africa, Keynote address at a Symposium on democratic Transition in Africa organized by the Centre for Research, Documentation and University Excchange, University of Ibadan, 1992: 16-19.

[14] Eze Chukudi. Introduction: Philosophy and the (Post) colonial in Chkwudi Eze(ed) Postcolonial African Philosophy, Cambridge. Mass:Blackwell, 1997

[15] Irele Abiola. In praise of Alienation, An Inaugural lecture delivered on the 22nd of November, University of Ibadan, 1982.

[16] Tocqueville, Alexis de. Democracy in America. New York: New American Library, 1956.

[17] Nwabueze BO. Democratization, Spectrum Books Limited. Ibadan. 1993.

[18] Mill J S. Representative Government. London: Penguin Books Ltd., 1910.

[19] Ake C. Democracy and Development in Africa, Washington: Brookings Institution Press, 1995.

[20]  Bryce J. Modern Democracies. New York: Penguin Press, 1920.

[21]  Fred E Harris. America’s Democracy, New York: Penguin Press, 1989.

[22]  Schraeder Peter J. African Politics and Society. Belmont: Wadsworth, 2004.

[23]  Global Centre for the responsibility to protect. 2024. https://www.globar2p.org/countries/mali/burkina fasso/niger.

[24]  Diamond L. University Democracy? Policy Review, Heritage Foundation, 2003. Retrieved from www.policyreview.org/jun03/diamond.html.

[25] Ake, C. Democracy and Development in Africa, Washington: Brookings Institution Press, 1995.

[26] The Economist Intelligence Unit. The New York Times, 2024. https/www.nytimes.com.