The Nigeria government, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has launched an Initiative geared towards strengthening democracy in West Africa.
The Initiative, Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD), which was launched at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Abuja on Monday, is designed to strengthen democracy in Africa amidst political violence, limited citizens participation, weakening of judicial institutions, among others.
Speaking during the official signing of the product documents of RPD, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar emphasized that RPD is more than a policy instrument; “it is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s contribution and indeed, Nigeria’s gift to the strengthening and flourishing of democracy in Africa.”
The Minister lamented that democratic governance in Africa has been confronted by sobering and deeply complex challenges.
He noted that despite the commendable efforts embodied in mechanisms such as the African Union’s Peer Review Mechanism, and other numerous national reforms, democracy in several parts of Africa continent continues to face obstacles.
Some of these obstacles, according to Amb. Tuggar includes persistence of political violence, the limited participation of citizens in decision-making processes, the growing phenomenon of administrative impunity among political office holders and in some instances, the weakening of judicial and media institutions.
He said these structural weaknesses culminate in unconstitutional changes of government or protracted political instability; conditions which, in turn, fuel insecurity and violence.
The Minister said RPD seeks to, not only strengthen electoral institutions, deploy early-warning and rapid-response mechanisms against unconstitutional transitions, but also, elevate youth and civil society as indispensable democratic actors, counter disinformation and lay the foundations for long-term governance stability.
Amb. Tuggar further stated that the RPD offers a credible, politically viable and technically sound platform for reversing democratic backsliding and restoring institutional legitimacy.
“It is a home-grown, yet globally informed, mechanism. Simply, an African solution to an African challenge!”
On her part, the Resident representative of the UNDP in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah said the launching of RPD signaled that Nigeria is not only shaping the regional democratic landscape but also charting a path for Africa-led, Africa-owned transformation.
She said RPD is not merely a programme, but a compact of values. “It is Africa-led, regionally anchored, and globally significant, grounded in our belief that the answers to Africa’s governance challenges lies within Africa itself”.
Ms. Attafuah said RPD will strengthen democratic institutions and public accountability, broaden inclusive citizen participation, (especially for women, youth, and persons with disabilities), promote credible and transparent electoral systems and foster regional cooperation and peer learning so that democracy delivers for the people of West Africa.
According to her, the RPD is designed to serve as a catalyst platform, transforming democratic ideals into practical tools, strengthening systems that deliver, and building confidence among citizens that governance can be inclusive, can be predictable, and can be just.