Constitutional Power-Sharing Democracy in Africa

Elections in Africa have become a make or break exercise for states. Africa continues to witness intense power struggles resulting from ethnicity. Elections are used as a platform for parties that have been excluded from political participation and decision-making, to seek victory while the incumbents will do anything to stay in power. This leads to hotly contested elections that are often marred with electoral violence and rigging. In extreme cases incumbents change constitutions whereas some resort to dictatorship or military rule. My position is that unless there is genuine political and economic power-sharing in Africa through a formidable, inclusive process of constitutionalism, and participation by citizens, then power struggles and violence, will continue to plague the African continent. Power-sharing must ensure equal distribution of resources, separation and devolution of powers, proportional representation, adequate checks and balances on the executive and a fundamental change in the ideologies of citizens. I propose power-sharing through consociational democracy and argue for the formation of federal nation-states through regional integration.