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Africa’s Democratic Moment?

July/August 2019 133

Given its diplomatic, military, and economic weight in Africa, the

United States has the power to nudge these leaders to choose trans-

formation over stasis. For too long, however, Washington has em-

braced the false comfort o the status quo. Worried about rocking the

boat in a seemingly fragile region, it has supported trusted but awed

partners instead o pushing leaders to make real change. It’s time for

a new approach. As a new cohort o  leaders takes the reins o power

in Africa’s most inuential countries, the United States should have

the courage to stand with the people calling for change.

FRESH FACES

Ethiopia, a country o some 100 million people, has seen the most dra-

matic transformation. In 2015, the ruling party and its allies swept every

seat in parliamentary elections, revealing the sorry state o the coun-

try’s ostensibly multiparty political system. The next year, tens o

thousands o‡ Ethiopians took to the streets to protest their country’s

closed political space and uneven allocation o resources. Lacking the

political heft to steer Ethiopia through the crisis, the prime minister,

Hailemariam Desalegn, resigned in February 2018, and the ruling party

chose Abiy to succeed him. Abiy swiftly ushered in a series o audacious

and previously unimaginable reforms. He has released thousands o

political prisoners; made peace with Ethiopia’s archenemy, Eritrea;

LEFT

TO

RIGHT: REUTERS:

TIKSA

NEGERI,

POOL, SUMAYA

HISHAM,

OLIVIA

ACLAND,

AFOLABI

SOTUNDE

Five guys: Abiy, Lourenço, Ramaphosa, Tshisekedi, and Buhari

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