Good governance, elections and human rights go hand in hand and cannot be dealt with in isolation from each other.

2011 and 2012 have been election years for the African continent. Every country in Central Africa has held or is scheduled to hold an election. We, therefore, stand before an opportunity to solidify human rights in Africa.

Advances on democracy issues in Central Africa

Let’s start with the good news. What are the recent electoral trends that we have seen in Central Africa over recent years? Regular multi-party elections have taken place.

General Idriss Déby Itno, president of Chad, and Joseph Kabila Kabange, president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, are allowing long-time opposition figures to run against them.

President François Bozizé Yangouvonda of the Central African Republic and Kabila are also allowing deposed heads of state or their allies to run against them.

Leaders who took power through coups are organizing elections. Bozize organized elections in 2005 after the 2003 coup. Déby organized elections in 1996 after 1990 coup.

Sustainable electoral management bodies have also been established. This year, the DRC created a permanent Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendante or CENI, as called for in its constitution. Cameroon created its new Electoral Board of Elections (ELECAM) in 2006. And, Chad created its CENI in 2008.

To take it one step further, we have seen the formalization of human rights and elections in national constitutions. The Central African Republic’s 2004 constitution affirms its adherence to the UN’s human rights documents and its preamble indicates that the president and parliament will be elected by direct universal suffrage. The DRC’s 2005 constitution also affirms its adherence to Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

These are great advancements. Yet, there are still many challenges ahead for countries in Central Africa when it comes to elections and human rights.

Five key challenges

First, the right to political self-determination is blocked by the power of one-party states. Central Africa is dominated by one-party states at the executive and parliamentary levels. Incumbents win repeatedly by huge margins:

The latest elections have:

• Déby/Chad winning with 89 percent
• Ondimba/Gabon winning with 79 percent
• Biya/Cameroon winning with 70 percent
• Bozize/CAR winning with 66 percent

Second, the right to free and fair elections is challenged by technical and procedural flaws before, during and after elections.

Some of the challenges faced prior to Election Day are: Electoral commissions being perceived as lacking independence and favoring the party in power; voter registration is difficult for citizens and marred by inadequate vetting of the final voter list; and inadequate civic and voter education.

Challenges on Election Day include: fraud; intimidation at polling stations; stuffed ballot boxes; improperly sealed ballot boxes; and voter names left off the voter list. There is also insufficient and improper placement of polling stations.

After elections we see that disputes are not given thorough attention. Delays in planning for the next electoral cycle, which stem from a lack of recognition of the electoral process as a cycle, add to post-Election Day woes.

Third, the right free political expression is challenged by government restrictions on opposition parties. Governments systematically weaken and erode the relevance of opposition parties by restricting their freedoms to campaign and assemble.

Manipulation of the constitution, extremely long lengths of rule and repression of public discourse further erode opportunities for real political discourse and change.

The fact that the opposition’s claims are often overlooked or given inadequate consideration following elections also smothers free political expression.

Fourth, the right to freedom of speech is challenged by governments which stifle media.

Across the region, government-controlled media dominates, and alternative opinions are silenced. Journalists who are critical of the government often face sanctions, revocation of licenses, violent reprisal and imprisonment.

Fifth, the right to bodily integrity is challenged by security concerns regarding armed groups, militia and violence.

Pre- and post-electoral violence hampers human rights by increasing tension during electoral periods as a result of security concerns.

Lax security has given rise to abuses such as unlawful killing, detention and disappearances.

Across the region, a culture of conflict and impunity has grown. Further, security forces are involved in wide-ranging abuses against local populations.

Opportunities for improvement

Despite these affronts to human rights, there are reasons to believe that, at present, there are opportunities to advance human rights in the region. The international community should seize these openings and push for their fulfillment. 

To begin with, basic human rights and regular elections have been formalized in national constitutions, laying the legal groundwork for improvement in the exercise of these provisions.

Countries across the region constitutionally recognize international standards for the protection of human rights. The international community should encourage future treaty ratification and compliance.

Constitutions across the region provide for regular elections and transitions of power. The international community should engage electoral management bodies and civil society to increase transparency, effectiveness and accountability of these institutions.

International cooperation has largely contributed to improving security in the region. Security and peace will remain a central issue to the future of the region. Therefore, the international community should applaud the efforts of governments that work to re-integrate rebel combatants into security forces and work to reinforce security.

Finally, local capacity is at an all-time high. This provides a fundamental opportunity for the international community to continue strengthening public and private institutions to cement the good progress that has been made.

Final thoughts

In conclusion, the international community should continue to support democratic advances in Central Africa with a specific focus on ensuring free and fair elections. Why?

Elections are a process, not an event, and citizens must be empowered to freely exercise both their civil and political liberties throughout the process.

Free participation is a vindication of the basic human right to participate in government without fear.

Peaceful elections serve to diminish violence, restore citizen trust in their leaders and enhance a nation’s credibility in the eyes of the international community.

On the 10th anniversary of the UN Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa we are reminded that the promotion of universal human rights remains at the center of the mission of the United Nations since its inception.

Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of democracy and the sincere enjoyment of the basic human right of persons to "take part in the government of his country" (UDHR, Article 21).

Without free and fair elections neither democracy nor human rights can fully exist in Central Africa and in the world at-large.