What You Need to Know
In a recent article, former Chad Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacké highlights the precarious state of democracy in Africa. He argues that as global powers prioritize their own interests, the values of democracy and human rights are increasingly sidelined. Padacké calls for a renewed commitment from African youth to safeguard democratic principles against rising authoritarianism.
Africa. Former Chad Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacké, in an article for a French magazine, asserts that as the world reshapes itself, democracy is faltering, and freedoms and human rights are declining everywhere.
Padacké adds that these values, once considered irreversible achievements, have now taken a backseat to the logic of power and business.
He highlights that the law of the strongest is re-emerging as pluralism wanes in favor of unilateralism, and Africa finds itself in a state of severe confusion.
Language of Interests
Padacké continues that the consensus among nations has become discordant, as major powers are now obsessed with their economic interests and national strategic agendas.
He notes that Donald Trump’s return to the White House has solidified this logic, as the United States—once a champion of liberal democracy—has retreated under Trump, who fosters an almost hysterical admiration for strongmen rather than strong institutions.
He states that Washington turns a blind eye to rights violations as long as they do not threaten its interests, indicating that this approach opens the door for new models of international relations based on transactions.
Padacké emphasizes that this “new business order,” indifferent to moral considerations and the suffering of peoples, legitimizes authoritarian regimes, which find in these unconditional partnerships a comfortable alternative to the ethical demands that the West once insisted upon.
He mentions that defending rights and democracy has now been reduced to issuing polished statements in response to crises in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific region.
In this context, the former Prime Minister notes that the youth, who make up the majority and are connected to the internet, oscillate between anger and resignation, lost between sovereign discourse, conspiracy theories, and their desire for freedom and democracy.
Africans must understand that the international community will not come to liberate them from prevailing authoritarian regimes, and that great powers will not come to establish democracy for them. He questions, “Where is Africa headed?” and clarifies that the continent hangs in the balance between a legitimate aspiration for freedom and the actual return of authoritarian regimes.
He asserts that Africans must realize that the international community will not come to liberate them from prevailing authoritarian regimes, and that great powers will not come to establish democracy for them. Only the commitment of conscious youth can save democracy, which is under threat on the continent.
The struggle for democracy in Africa has been a complex journey, marked by colonial legacies and the rise of authoritarian regimes. In recent decades, many African nations have made strides towards democratic governance, yet challenges remain as political instability and economic interests often undermine these efforts. The current global landscape, with shifting alliances and priorities, further complicates the quest for democratic resilience on the continent.
Historically, external influences have played a significant role in shaping Africa’s political landscape. The Cold War era saw superpowers supporting various regimes based on strategic interests rather than democratic values.
