Ahead of the May 29 democracy day celebration, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, alongside eminent personalities from across the world, will deliberate on the impact of military coups in Africa.
Among the personalities slated to share their insights at the upcoming summit on the State of Democracy in Africa are Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Mr. Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation.
The event is expected to draw a diverse audience, including government officials, civil society leaders, scholars, and the public, all of whom are stakeholders in the future of democratic governance in Africa.
The Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library and the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, organisers of the summit scheduled for May 22, 2024, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, explained in a statement that the summit will address a range of critical topics, including the achievements and challenges of the current democratic landscape in Africa, the impact of military coups on democratic integrity, and the exploration of alternative democratic models that reflect Africa’s historical and cultural contexts.
Additional insights will be drawn from Afrobarometer surveys on citizen sentiments and perceptions of democracy, as well as strategies for strengthening democratic resilience against both external and internal threats.
They further stated that the summit aims to foster constructive dialogue among African leaders, policymakers, academics, and civil society representatives, with the goal of enhancing understanding of Africa’s democratic state, promoting intercontinental collaboration for sustainable governance, and developing actionable strategies to tackle challenges to democracy and governance on the continent.
The summit will serve as a high-profile forum to evaluate and discuss challenges and opportunities for democratic governance across the continent.
Taking place against a backdrop of significant political changes, including a recent surge in military coups, the summit will address pressing threats to fragile democratic processes in various African countries.
