“Democracy Support Strategies in Africa,” is the title of a congressional hearing chaired Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the Africa and Global Human Rights Subcommittee. Officials from the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and human rights advocacy groups testified.

 “The Administration has increased funding for democracy and governance in Africa in the 2017 proposed budget by more than $168 million from the actual FY2015 funding,” said Chairman Smith. “However, there are questions concerning the effective use of such funds.”

Smith noted that in recent years a troubling trend in Africa with some leaders altering constitutions to allow them to run for a third term not previously provided for in law. For instance, although the US Administration urged the presidents of Burundi and Rwanda not to go for a third term, both leaders ignored the call.

“Election support is not merely a matter of money. It involves faith in the transparency and fairness of the election process itself,” Smith said. “The international community cannot achieve such trust among voters on our own. The country in question must experience a meeting of the minds between the ruling party and government and the political opposition. There must be clear, effective rules for elections that create a level playing ground for all candidates and parties involved in the election process.” Click here to read Chairman Smith’s statement.

Several Obama Administration officials testified. D. Bruce Wharton, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the State Department, said, “We’ve seen some major electoral successes, but there have been setbacks as well. Solid democratic governance is not simply about elections, and therefore we will continue to promote respect for universal human rights, support civil society, and fight corruption.” Click here to read his statement.

Thomas H. Staal, Acting Assistant Administrator at the USAID, testified that:“Côte d’Ivoire held peaceful elections in October 2015, avoiding a return to conflict. Burkina Faso’s November 2015 elections led to the first new leader in almost 30 years. The Central African Republic (CAR) overcame three years of brutal conflict to hold elections that allowed for a democratic hand-over from a transitional government. These transitions are an inspiration to others in the region.” Click here to read his statement.

Steven Feldstein, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the State Department said “Surveys such as Afrobarometer consistently show high majorities of African citizens want democracy–71% in a recent poll. Citizens are demanding more from their governments—better services, transparency, greater accountability to the people, and expanded opportunities to benefit from economic growth.” Click here to read his statement.

    Also testifying were human rights advocacy groups which have worked across the continent.

Rushdi Nackerdien, Regional Director for Africa at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems said “Sub‐Saharan Africa is confronting a confluence of political, demographic, and economic changes that generate opportunities and challenges – but above all, potential instability.  The continent’s youth bulge is creating a new generation of active, urban, yet underemployed and often marginalized citizens, many of who may be at risk to anti--‐democratic influences, extremist ideologies and radicalization.”

Patrick Merloe, Senior Associate and Director of Election Programs, National Democratic Institute, said, “Not all countries receive adequate funding for needed preparations or support for engagement on pressing electoral issues. Democracy and governance funding has faced several years of cutbacks, particularly in Africa, which was reduced by more than 40 percent last year. Those cuts have impacted the ability to respond to requests to monitor elections, develop civil society, and strengthen fragile parliaments.”

John Tomaszewski , Acting Regional Director for Africa, International Republican Institute, testified, “While there have been recent historic and peaceful transfers of power in countries like Nigeria, current trends are worrying. They point to an uptick in cases of so called "third-termers" exceeding their original two-term mandate, like in Burundi and Congo-Brazzaville, and longer-term (or "lifetime presidents") in countries like Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea.”

Nii Akuetteh, Executive Director, The African Immigrant Caucus, told the subcommittee that “Recent Ghanaian elections have been declared free and fair, and Ghana has received significant praise and even material benefits. And yet later assessments have suggested that significant flaws and problems had been over-looked.”

Click here to read the witnesses’ statements and video of the hearing.

###