The Palgrave Handbook of Democracy, Governance and Justice in Africa

✍ Scribed by Aderomola Adeola, Makau W. Mutua

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Year: 2022
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 384
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

There is an emerging consensus that what is projected as democratic governance and justice in Africa requires a re-calibration, in particular, in relation to the constitutive demos, human rights, the realisation of commitments at various governance levels and the convergence between these ideations. The post-colonial narrative on democracy has unveiled some crevices in rule of law, political equality, political participation, political culture and freedom of the press. Aside from the fact that these notions are threatened by some existing institutional structures, these notions are increasingly being negotiated across political spaces. Evident in the prevalent narrative is an imperative for Africa to assert its place on the global scene of democratic governance and justice. However, if this will be accomplished, it is important to understand some of the issues that need to be worked through in this transition.

✦ Table of Contents

Contents
List of Contributors
List of Figures
List of Tables
1 Africa in Transition: Issues in Democracy, Governance and Justice
1 Introduction
2 Structure of the Book
Bibliography
2 Election Technology as a Means of Enhancing Democratic Legitimacy: A Case of Kenya
1 Introduction
2 Conceptualising Legitimacy
3 International Legal Frameworks on Elections
4 The Kenyan Experience: Did Election Technology Enhance Democratic Legitimacy in Kenya?
4.1 Reasons for the Adoption of Election Technology in Kenya
4.2 2013 Elections
2013 Presidential Election Petition
4.3 2017 Elections
2017 Presidential Election Petition
5 An Analysis of the Kenyan Experience
6 Conclusion
Bibliography
3 Assessing Cameroon’s Elections Against International Standards and Good Practices on Democracy and Human Rights
1 Introduction
2 Normative Frameworks
2.1 International Frameworks
2.2 Regional Frameworks
2.3 National Election Framework
The Cameroon Constitution (1996)
The Electoral Code (2012)
The Diaspora Voting Law (13 July 2011)
Public Funding of Political Parties and Election Campaign Law (2000)
Other Subsidiary Laws with Implications on the Electoral Process
3 The Institutional Framework
4 The Question of Credibility of Elections in a Democracy
5 Overviewing Multiparty Elections Since 1992
5.1 Presidential Elections
5.2 Legislative Elections
6 Assessing Cameroon’s Elections
6.1 Lack of Independence of Election Management Body
6.2 ELECAM Is Not the Sole Authority on Elections
6.3 Electoral Dispute Resolution
6.4 Timeframe for Filing Election Petitions
6.5 The Conflicting Roles of the Constitutional Council
6.6 Election Campaign Period
6.7 Qualification as a Candidate for Presidential Election
6.8 Unlimited Presidential Terms
6.9 The Question of Multiple Ballot Papers
Printing and Storage of Ballot Papers
7 Way Forward
7.1 Need for an Independent EMB
7.2 Need for an Independent Constitutional Court
7.3 Election Campaign
7.4 Conditions of Candidacies and Eligibility
7.5 Election Calendar
7.6 Need for Cooperation with International Observers for Free and Fair Elections
7.7 Need for an Enabling Environment for Democratic and Human Rights Expression
8 Conclusion
Bibliography
4 State Sovereignty and Presidential Term Limits in Africa
1 Introduction
2 State Sovereignty and Presidential Term Limits in Africa
2.1 State Sovereignty: Its Origins, Evolution and Contemporary Interpretations
2.2 Presidential Termism in Africa: Contours, Trends and Prevailing Practices
3 Piercing the Doctrine of State Sovereinty: The African Union and Presidential Term Limits in Africa
4 Conclusion: Possible Options for Reform by the African Union
Bibliography
5 Soldiers in Civilian Uniforms: The Role of the Military in the Pursuit of Third-Termism
1 Introduction
2 Soldiers and the Third-Term Agenda
2.1 Burkina Faso
2.2 Siding with the Incumbent: The Case of Democratic Republic of Congo
3 Conclusion
Bibliography
6 Reflections on the Role of the Pan-African Parliament in Advancing Democratic Governance in Africa
1 Introduction
2 The Vision for the Establishment of the Pap
3 Interrogating the Parliamentary Status of the Pap
4 Rationale for the Limited Mandate of the Pap
5 Objectives, Powers and Functions of the Pap
6 Strategies for Advancing Democratic Governance in Africa
6.1 Oversight Functions
6.2 Fact-Finding Missions
6.3 Election Observation Missions
6.4 Committee Work
6.5 Conferences
6.6 Model Laws
7 Conclusion
Bibliography
7 Gender Discriminatory Nationality Laws and Childhood Statelessness in Africa: A Reflection on Legislative Interpretations
1 Introduction
2 The Right to Nationality Under International Law
3 Legal Frameworks on the Right to Nationality in Swaziland, Libya, Liberia and Sudan
3.1 Swaziland
Swaziland Constitution 2005
Swaziland Citizenship Act 1992
3.2 Libya
Libyan Nationality Law no 24 for 2010/1378
3.3 Liberia
Liberia Constitution
Aliens and Nationality Law 1973
3.4 Sudan
Sudan Constitution 2019
Sudan Nationality Law 1994
4 Discrimination and Childhood Statelessness
5 Conclusion and Recommendation
Bibliography
8 The Economic Community of West African States and the Mano River Union: Conflict, Cooperation and Accommodation
1 Introduction
2 Methodology and Significance
3 Analytical Framework
4 Historical Context
5 The MRU: Reasons for Formation
6 Same Goals, Different Missions?
7 Challenges in Fostering Closer Ties Between the Two Institutions
7.1 Crisis of Identity
7.2 Different Historical Experiences
7.3 Elusive Peace
7.4 Human Rights and Justice
8 Relationship with Ecowas: Why the MRU Matters
8.1 Economic Importance
8.2 Social and Kinship Ties
8.3 Peace and Security Arena
9 Attempts at Reforms
10 Accomplishments of MRU and ECOWAS
11 Areas for Continued Collaboration
12 Conclusion
Bibliography
9 The Media and Civil Society as Partners in Transitional Justice in Côte D’ivoire
1 Introduction
2 The Media, Conflicts and Transitional Justice in Côte D’ivoire
3 Overview of Traditional and Online Media in Côte D’ivoire
4 Civil Society Space
4.1 Domestic Regulations on Civil Society Activities
5 Transitional Justice Mechanisms in Côte D’ivoire
5.1 Domestic Regulations Governing Operations of the Media
6 Media Engagement as a Tool to Further Transitional Justice
6.1 CSOs and Online Media Involved in Transitional Justice
6.2 Interview Responses: Media Engagement by CSOs
6.3 Qualitative Content Analysis: Media Engagement by CSOs in Côte d’Ivoire
Projects Targeting Journalists and Media Content
7 Summary of Findings and Conclusion
Bibliography
10 Genocide, Justice and Democratic Legitimacy: Lessons from Rwanda’s 25-Year Experiment
1 Introduction
2 Historical and Conceptual Framework
2.1 Background to the 1994 Genocide
2.2 The Quest for Justice
2.3 Transitional Justice
2.4 Limits and Frontiers of Transitional Justice in the Real World
3 Domestic Responses
3.1 Extrajudicial Responses
3.2 Specialised Chambers
3.3 Gacaca Jurisdictions
3.4 Alternative Punishment and Correctional Mechanisms
3.5 Genocide-Centred Lawfare
4 International Responses
4.1 ICTR
4.2 Trials in Foreign National Courts
4.3 Extradition Arrangements
4.4 Indictments Against RPF Officers
5 The Politics of Justice: Challenges & Controversies
5.1 Genocide Within the Context of Civil War
5.2 Mass Participation in the Genocide
5.3 International Community’s Lack of Moral Authority
5.4 The Culture of Victor’s Justice
6 Conclusion: Looking Back, Reaching Forward
6.1 Looking Back
6.2 Reaching Forward: The Quest for a New Departure
Bibliography
11 The Community Court of Justice of the Ecowas and the Advancement of Human Rights and Social Justice Reform in West Africa: Three Landmark Cases
1 Introduction
2 The Case of Serap v. Nigeria and Anor 2010 (‘case 1’)
3 The Case of Serap v. Nigeria and 8 ORS 2012 (‘Case 2’)
4 The Case of Serap and 10 ORS v. Nigeria and 4 ORS 2014 (‘Case 3’)
5 From the Sub-Regional to the Local—The Correspondence of Human Rights and Social Justice Norms
6 Conclusion
Bibliography
12 Contemporary Developments in Human and Peoples’ Rights Protection in Africa: Insights from the African Union
1 Introduction
2 Evolution of Human Rights in Africa
3 Normative and Institutional Developments of Human and Peoples’ Rights in Africa
4 New Developments on Human and Peoples Rights in Africa: Mainstreaming Human Rights into Au Programming
5 Conclusion
Bibliography
13 Righting the Future from the Past: Four Decades of Human Rights (Illusions) in Zimbabwe
1 Introduction
2 Zimbabwe’s 1980 Independence: A ‘New Baby is Born’
3 Defending the (in) Defensible—Mugabe and the One-Party State System in Zimbabwe
4 A Chronicle of Human Rights Records Under the Regime
4.1 The Gukurahundi Massacres (1983–1987)—When a State Turns Against Its Citizens
4.2 State Response to the 1998 Food Riots
4.3 ‘The Emperor Has no clothes’—The 2000 Land Reform Programme in Zimbabwe
4.4 Enduring Human Rights Violations and Erosion of Democratic Rule
4.5 Unleashing Violence Against the Opposition
4.6 From Pillar to Post—Human Rights Violations Under Operation Murambatsvina (‘Clear the Filth’)
4.7 Discovery of Diamonds and Human Rights Violations
4.8 The 2008 Election Violence: A Winter of Agony and Anguish
5 Change and Continuity—Human Rights Violations in the Post-Mugabe Era
6 Reaching Forward from the PAST: ARE There Effective Ways to Re-Write the Future?
7 Conclusion
Bibliography
14 Constitutional Courts as Protection Conduits: The Role of Egypt Supreme Constitutional Court in Advancing Human Rights Protection
1 Introduction
2 Constitutional Courts as Protection Conduits
3 The SCC and Freedom of Belief
3.1 The SCC on Article 2: Towards a Liberal Interpretation
3.2 Litigating Article 2: Women’s Rights and Entitlements
4 The SCC and Minorities Rights
5 The SCC and Civil Liberties (Freedom of Association and Right to Protest)
5.1 Freedom of Association
5.2 Right to Protest
6 Conclusion
Bibliography
15 The Media and Freedom of Expression in Democratic Malawi: A Formality or Reality?
1 Introduction
2 Media and Political Landscape
3 Legal Framework
4 Economic Environment
5 Journalists’ Standards of Living
6 Alternative Media
7 Conclusion
Bibliography
16 The Future in Transition: Realising Respect for Human Rights in the ‘New’ Gambia
1 Introduction
2 Human Rights and Governance Challenges in The Gambia
2.1 Human Rights in The Gambia: An Assessment
Freedom of Speech
The Regulation of Assembly
Governance Challenges
3 Democratic Transition: A Scorecard
3.1 Equalising the Political Playing Field
3.2 Accountability and Truth Telling
Commission of Inquiry
3.3 Constitutional Review Process
3.4 Building a Culture of Human Rights
Ratification of Key UN Human Rights Treaties
Human Rights Committee’s Review of the State of Civil and Political Rights in the Gambia
3.5 ‘Gambianization’ of the Judiciary
4 Conclusion
Bibliography
17 The Psychosocial Well-Being of the African Child in Criminal Proceedings
1 Introduction
2 International children’s Rights Framework on Participation and Child Psychological Well-Being in Criminal Justice Processes
2.1 Participation and Children in Criminal Proceedings
2.2 Children’s Psychosocial Well-Being in Criminal Proceedings
3 National Laws in Africa Vis-A-Viz the International Standards on Participation and Child Psychological Well-Being in Criminal Proceedings
3.1 Adversarial and Inquisitorial Justice Traditions and Children’s Psychological Well-Being in Criminal Proceedings
3.2 National Laws and the Psychological Well-Being of Children in Criminal Proceedings
South Africa
Nigeria
Egypt
Uganda
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
4 Children’s Psychological Well-Being in Criminal Proceedings: Analysis, Conclusion and Recommendations
Bibliography
18 Taxation as Protection Finance for the African Child
1 Introduction
2 Taxes as a Strategy to Finance Child Protection
3 Current Challenges to Effective Tax Regimes
4 Policy Options for Strengthening the Tax Regime
5 Conclusion
Bibliography
19 Protecting ‘Climate Refugees’ Under the OAU 1969 Refugee Convention
1 Introduction
2 The Global Regulatory Framework
3 The 1969 OAU Refugee Convention
3.1 Expanding Interpretations: The Place of Climate Change Refugees
4 Conclusion
Bibliography
Index