The Democracy Union of Africa is an alliance of centre-right political parties in Africa. Founded in Dakar, Senegal, in 1997, it is affiliated with the global International Democracy Union.[1] It aims to bring together parties with similar aims and political goals, such as the protection of democracy and individual liberty, from the whole of Africa, with its headquarters being found in Accra, Ghana.
| Abbreviation | DUA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1997 |
| Founded at | Dakar, Senegal |
| Location | |
Region | Africa |
Honorable Patron | Nana Akufo-Addo |
Chairman | McHenry Venaani |
| Affiliations | International Democracy Union |
2019 Meeting in Accra, Ghana
editA meeting of the Democracy Union of Africa occurred with the support of the IDU on 3–5 February 2019 in Accra, Ghana.[2] 17 parties from within the DUA were represented at this meeting.[3]
The Meeting was opened by the Secretary General of Ghana's New Patriotic Party, John Bouadu.[4] President of the Popular Democratic Movement, McHenry Venaani, was elected chairman of DUA at this meeting, and President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo took the role as Honorary Patron of the Democratic Union of Africa. The title was accepted for him on his behalf by Vice-President of Ghana, H:E Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.[5]
In an address to Ghanaian media at the meeting in Accra, IDU Secretary General Christian Kattner said that, ‘we need a strong Democracy Union of Africa offering a sustainable network for political parties on the African continent, fighting together for freedom and democracy in order to ensure a better life of all people of Africa.’[6]
Interim Steering Committee
editThe Interim Steering Committee was elected at the Meeting in Accra in February 2019. The results of the election are as follows;[7]
- Chairman: Mr McHenry Venaani, Leader of the Opposition and President of the Popular Democratic Movement of Namibia
- Vice-Chairman for North Africa: Mr. Rahhal El Makkaoui, Member of the Executive Committee in Charge of International Relations, Istiqlal Party, Morocco
- Vice-Chairman for East Africa: Mrs. Ingrid Turinawe Kamateneti, Secretary for Mobilization, Forum for Democratic Change, Uganda
- Vice Chairman for West Africa: Mr. John Boadu, Secretary General, New Patriotic Party, Ghana
- Representative: Mrs. Linette Olofsson, Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Democratic Movement, Mozambique, for women and for the Portuguese-speaking communities of Africa
- Representative: Mrs. N’guessan Edwidge Wassa Aamoin, Parti Democratique, Côte d`Ivoire, for youth and the French-speaking communities of Africa
Member parties
editFull Members
edit| Country | Party | Abbr | Color | Upper house legislative seats | Lower house legislative seats | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Angola
|
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola | UNITA | Red and Green | Unicameral legislature only | 90 / 220
|
In opposition |
 Côte d'Ivoire
|
Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire – African Democratic Rally | PDCI-RDA | Green | Unicameral legislature only | 77 / 255
|
Junior party in government coalition |
 Equatorial Guinea
|
Union of the Centre-Right | UCD | Blue | 0 / 70
|
0 / 100
|
Extra-parliamentary opposition |
 Ghana
|
New Patriotic Party | NPP | Red, Blue, and White | Unicameral legislature only | 137 / 275
|
In government |
 Kenya
|
Democratic Party | DP | Green, Orange | 0 / 67
|
0 / 349
|
Extra-parliamentary opposition |
| Kenya Africa National Union | KANU | Black, Red and Green | 3 / 67
|
10 / 349
|
In opposition | |
 Lesotho
|
Basotho National Party | BNP | Blue, White, Red, and Green | Senate members are tribal leaders or appointees | 1 / 120
|
In opposition |
 Liberia
|
Unity Party | UP | Green and Maroon | 13 / 30
|
10 / 73
|
In government |
 Malawi
|
Malawi Congress Party | MCP | Black, Red, and Green | Unicameral legislature only | 55 / 193
|
In government |
| People's Party | PP | Orange, Black & White | Unicameral legislature only | 5 / 193
|
In opposition | |
 Morocco
|
Istiqlal Party | Istiqlal | Mauve, Pink | 17 / 120
|
81 / 395
|
In government |
 Mozambique
|
Mozambican National Resistance | RENAMO | Black, Red, Blue, White | Unicameral legislature only | 60 / 250
|
In opposition |
 Namibia
|
Popular Democratic Movement | PDM | Blue, White and Red | 2 / 42
|
16 / 104
|
In opposition |
 Nigeria
|
People's Democratic Party | PDP | Green, White and Red | 36 / 109
|
118 / 360
|
In opposition |
 Seychelles
|
New Democratic Party | NDP | Blue | Unicameral legislature only | 0 / 31
|
Extra-parliamentary opposition |
 Sierra Leone
|
Sierra Leone People's Party | SLPP | Green | Unicameral legislature only | 81 / 149
|
In government |
 South Africa
|
African Christian Democratic Party | ACDP | Red and Blue | 1 / 430
|
3 / 400
|
In opposition |
| Inkatha Freedom Party | IFP | Red, White, Black, Green, and Yellow | 2 / 90
|
17 / 400
|
In government | |
 Tanzania
|
Party for Democracy and Progress | CHADEMA | Red, Blue, and White | Unicameral legislature only | 20 / 393
|
In opposition |
 Uganda
|
Democratic Party | DP | Green | Unicameral legislature only | 9 / 529
|
In opposition |
| Forum for Democratic Change | FDC | Blue | Unicameral legislature only | 32 / 529
|
In opposition |
Observer members
edit| Country | Party | Abbr | Color | Upper house legislative seats | Lower house legislative seats | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Leone
|
People's Movement for Democratic Change | PMDC | Green, Orange | Unicameral legislature only | 0 / 149
|
Extra-parliamentary opposition |
Footnotes
edit- ^ Burnell, Peter J. (2006). Globalizing Democracy: Party Politics in Emerging Democracies. London: Taylor & Francis. p. 153. ISBN 978-0-415-40184-5.
- ^ "International Democracy Union on Instagram: "Democracy Union of Africa Meeting 2019 #DUA2019"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
- ^ "International Democracy Union on Instagram: "The #DUA2019 delegation met today with the Vice-President of Ghana, H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia @mbawumia at the Jubilee House. The Vice-…"". Instagram. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
- ^ "International Democracy Union on Instagram: "New Patriotic Party Secretary General John Bouadu opening the first evening of the meeting of Democracy Union of Africa in Accra, Ghana…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
- ^ "International Democracy Union on Instagram: "The #DUA2019 delegation met today with the Vice-President of Ghana, H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia @mbawumia at the Jubilee House. The Vice-…"". Instagram. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
- ^ "International Democracy Union on Instagram: "IDU Secretary General Christian Kattner addressing the Ghanaian media about rebuilding a political centre-right alliance in Africa: "We…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
- ^ "Statement on the Re-establishment of the Democracy Union of Africa | International Democracy Union". 12 February 2019. Retrieved 2019-02-19.