Massive pro-democracy protests in Mali recently led to the overthrow of dictator General Moussa Traore, who had ruled that West African nation for 23 years. The coup leaders are promising multi-party elections.
Similar protest has led to the toppling of the Marxist regime of Mathiew Kerekou in Benin. This West African state is following in the footsteps of a worldwide movement that is sweeping the African continent as well.
The Ivory Coast and Cape Verde Islands have held initial multi-party elections. Zambia and Burkino Faso are also planning their first free elections.
The socialist Frelimo government of Mozambique has renounced Marxism, embraced some free-market principles for their state run economy and conceded to some form of multi party elections. Nevertheless, they have set many restrictions for participating parties and rigidly control the media and the electoral commission.
Strong pro-democracy movements are challenging the authoritarian governments and one-party dictatorships of Madagascar, Gabon, Nigeria, Zaire, Angola, Kenya, Zambia, Mozambique, Togo, Ghana and Tunisia.
Currently there are 45 one-party dictatorships in Africa. Pro-democracy groups in Africa have called upon Americans to lobby the State Department to cease giving aid to the Marxist regimes of countries such as, Angola, Congo, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, etc., and invest this money in the blossoming economies of free market nations instead.
The U.S. and Africa Statistical Handbook 1991, is available by writing: The Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington DC 20002, or phone 202-546-4400.
