The electoral ambiguity that mar the electoral process in Gabon with pithy declarations here and there invites us once more to reflect on the issue of elections in Africa.

Indeed, elections in Africa are still sources of tension and even wars. Every time that there are elections in Africa, the sky’s getting dark, the brothers of yesterday suddenly glare at one another, and there is bloodshed. The only question that emerges from hearts is this: Why do we still always get into violence? Why, in general in Africa, election is synonymous of war? Several reasons can be listed to try to understand this political forfeiture that undermines and destroys the future of so many innocent people on the continent for decades. In first hand, it must be stressed, without fear of mistake, that many of our African countries are lacking tremendously strong, independent institutions, able to carry out the electoral mission entrusted to them without being controlling, influencing or be corrupted by any politicians. The political illiteracy of the African people, which lead them to direct their political choices, none on established political programs, but on the basis of tribal, clanical and ethnic criterias, continue to be exploited by political actors generally malicious whose only purpose is to divide in order to rule. The severe lack of public-spiritedness, during election campaigns by candidates through bad languages, prepares the minds to war in case of failure to be affronted rather than accepting with humility the results of the ballot box. The egocentric politic of our African countries reduced the political game to people or even to individual personalities creating groups, paving path to clashes which most of the time degenerate into civil war especially when we know that in Africa we have more improvised politicians than informed, strong politicians. The lack of true and genuine patriotism on the part of the candidates leads them to put their personal interests take precedence over the supreme interests of the nation. We have true ventriloquists who swear by the politic of their stomach. The refusal of failure, of defeat gives the impression that the political game is only for the winners and the loser is in fact a winner whose victory was stolen. The excessive pressure of foreign powers, of multinational companies in the electoral politics of our African countries are poisoning the atmosphere and sometimes leading our leaders to the roads whose unique finality is to sacrifice the lives of people. What can be done to get out Africa from this impasse?

It should be stressed, firstly that even though the political climate especially election in Africa is not rejoicing, some African countries such as Nigeria, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Benin, Kenya, Tanzania , South Africa, Ghana, in pain have made steps forward and stand today as models to follow. Indeed, it is time to give to our African countries strong and independent institutions with their heads upright and worthy men who inspire and sweat the values of justice and truth. There must also be a political and especially electoral education of our people by integrating in our education systems from the lowest levels of education, programs that prepare our young generations to the electoral political game. Education is the key to salvation. It is by forming political electoral conscience that we could train men and women ready for the challenge. Through education, we will help our younger generations to overcome tribal and clanical differences in order to embrace the republican values and make them theirs. At the heart of these Republican values are the supreme interest of the nation that transcends any personal interest; citizenship and respect for others which calls for more modesty and humility in relationships to each other; acceptance of defeat as part of the political electoral game; the total rejection of the self-centered politic based on individual persons for an opening to political programs which are enticing and promising for a better future. Above all, there is a need of international awakening that take foreign powers and multinational corporations to respect the integrity and the independence of African countries so that African can freely and conscientiously choose their leaders. The path to emergence which has now become the political refrain of so many African countries necessarily goes through democratic elections.

Donald ZAGORÉ, Sma