Awake Africa

Welcome to My Blog! Freedom!

I am Prince Olugbenga Adewoyin, co-founder and President of International Human Rights Movement (IHRM), Cape Verde headquarters. A diplomat, mediator, negotiator, a writer and a promoter of human rights and good governance.

This blog is dedicated to the subject ``Freedom`` and the reality of African liberation. The 25th of May is the date unitedly chosen to celeberate the freedom of the nations of Africa. Meaning, the nations of Africa are free and have autonomy.

Are the Nations of Africa free indeed? Are democracy and governance in Africa conforming to the principle of freedom? Before I go further, let us quickly see the meaning of freedom.

Meaning of Freedom

Freedom is a state of mind in which one is completely free. It means not confined or restrained in any manner.

By Wikipedia:

Freedom is understood as either having the ability to act or change without constraint or to possess the power and resources to fulfill one's purposes unhindered. Freedom is often associated with liberty and autonomy in the sense of "giving oneself their own laws", and with having rights and the civil liberties with which to exercise them without undue interference by the state. Freedom is associated with free will, without undue or unjust constraints on that will, such as enslavement.

Is Africa truely free? Yes or No?

The answer is No. Not all African nations are free. I do not want to say all African nations are not totally free. Limited freedom is no freedom at all. Untill all the policies, principles and laws governing the nations depict total freedom from undue interference from other states, then true freedom is not ascertained. Government must demonstrate the ability to act with free will in the full interest of the citizens without constraints. Anything contrary to that free will is enslavement socially, economically or otherwise. ´´Freedom has always been an expensive thing. History is fit testimony to the fact that freedom is rarely gained without sacrifice and self-denial.´´ Martin Luther King.

Democracy is the type of government through the system of representation. Representation is the principle by which delegates act for a constituency while government is the agency or apparatus through which a governing individual or body functions and exercises authority. By this structure it is understood that Democracy is government by the people and for the people. The elected individuals who have been authorized to govern do so with the sense of accountability and stewardship to those whom they represent. The priority of every government in a democratic system should be nothing else but the interest of the citizens whom they represent. Greater responsibility and authority are bestowed on government (stewards) which must in return be accomplished and exercised without undue interference by other states. Only the free can govern Africa.

According to Freedom House in 2018, only eleven African States are listed as `free` under the Freendom index. These countries are; Botswana, Mauritius, Cape Verde, Senegal,Tunisia, Ghana, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Namibia, South Africa and Benin. Others are either `Partially free` or `Not free`.

By principle, none of the eleven States that are listed as `free` are actually free. Rather, they are partially free. If democracy is through the system of representation, then the common (state) objectives overrule personal interest and thus make no room for corruption. When the governing individuals are overwhelmed by their own selfish interest (as it is the case in Africa) rather than the interest of the voters and their unborn generations, they become manipulative and enslaved.

A Call for Action!!

A need to advocate for true democracy and good governance in Africa is of paramount urgency to safe our motherland from decay and corruption. ´´Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter´´. Martin Luther King.

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