Why Did Congress Drop the Ball regarding Elections

By Scott A Morgan

Within the past week several events occurred that may determine the course of Free and Fair Elections in Africa. First of all the Often Delayed Elections that are supposed to occur in Ivory Coast were delayed again. Secondly the Elections that were scheduled to occur on the last day of this month were postponed for a week in Togo and finally the critical campaign for the Sudanese Elections Began.

The fact that these events occurred within a week shows how large of an error Congress made in Postponing the Hearings that were scheduled by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health. It is known that weather played a key role in the hearings not being held but the error is that at this time a make-up date has not been announced. The Events in the previous paragraph are just the tip of the iceberg indicating this serious lapse in judgement.

Congress currently funds two different groups that assist in building functioning Governments that promote Democratic Practices. They are the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute. As their names show both major US Political Parties back these institutions that promote such projects as Organizing Political Parties and empowering women so that they can get the right to vote.

Beginning in Early March now with the Togolese Elections until the End of June when the Democratic Republic of the Congo hold Elections there will be Elections Scheduled also in Ethiopia as well. We have noticed that in Rwanda which is an ally of the United States that action has been taken by the Government to curtail the efforts of two Political Parties the Democratic Greens and the Union of Democratic Forces from even Organizing to field Candidates for their upcoming elections.

The Election Cycles that are going to have the most impact are the ones in Sudan and in Ethiopia. It is becoming clear that no matter what the outcome is in Sudan that there is a chance that the North-South Conflict could reignite. It should be a given that there will be voting “irregularities” taking place in this election cycle. Next Year there will be a referendum regarding if the South can secede from the Country.

The Reactions regarding the Ethiopian Elections are the most interesting. Although little has been said about the current cycle by Washington however in the Diaspora this has created some excitement. Currently twenty million people have registered to vote and there is a Team from the European Union currently in the country to determine if it is feasible to send a team to monitor the upcoming elections. The Main Priority for the US is to have Free and Fair Elections in Ethiopia.

There is one other area of concern now. It appears that the Unity Government in Zimbabwe is having difficulties now. If there is no resolution then a snap election can be called for. The Congress saw fit to appropriate funding to watch the elections in Uganda. Sadly it appears that other more crucial elections may be left to the wayside. Way to Go Congress!!!

The Author Publishes Confused Eagle on the Internet and comments on US Policy towards Africa. Confused Eagle can be found at confusedeagle.livejournal.com