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2024 Review: Democracy in African Elections, BRICS, G20, AGOA
2024 Review: Democracy in African Elections, BRICS, G20, AGOA
Sputnik Africa
Presenting a review of 2024, AfroVerdict host joins a political analyst to explore electoral outcomes across the continent, developments within BRICS, and how... 19.12.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-12-19T18:04+0100
2024-12-19T18:04+0100
2024-12-19T18:03+0100
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2024 Review: Democracy in African Elections, BRICS, G20, AGOA
Sputnik Africa
Presenting a review of 2024, AfroVerdict host joins a political analyst to explore electoral outcomes challenges faced by ruling parties across the continent, developments within BRICS, South Africa's G20 chairmanship, and the African Union's membership in the G20, and how this makes the West anxious.
2024 proved to be a "tumultuous" year with "changes sweeping" not only across the western world but throughout Africa as well, particularly in terms of electoral outcomes. These include the Tories losing the election in the UK, French leader Macron being forced to call a snap election, Germany's Scholz government "under enormous pressure," as well as the "sweeping changes" in the US with Trump becoming president-elect, according to Dr. Oscar van Heerden, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for African Diplomacy and Leadership, University of Johannesburg.Countries of Southern Africa were no exception to the "sea of change," as we saw the Botswana Democratic Party losing its power after 53 years of ruling the country, and a brand-new opposition party, namely the Umbrella for Democratic Change, taking the lead.In Namibia, however, SWAPO maintained its influence and control, despite losing popularity according to the election outcomes.In South Africa, after 30 years of parliamentary majority, the ANC, although "not being kicked out of power," is losing significant support from 57% to 40%. This meant that for the first time the ANC had to form coalitions in order to form a government, which resulted in a Government of National Unity, consisting of ten political parties.Moving north, we observed "the expulsion of the French government [from] the Sahel region," which is a "positive result."In terms of Africa's overall role in geopolitics, it "learned a few lessons over the decades." According to Dr. Van Heerden, the African countries are no longer choosing sides when it comes to relations with the West or the East. As for the G20, chaired by the Republic of South Africa as of 2025, the summits thereof will now be hosted by BRICS member states three years in a row: India in 2023, Brazil in 2024, and South Africa next year. This is no good news for the West, which is "responding to the changing geopolitical international system," as the time of the "unipolar world has come to an end," and multilateralism is being emphasized, "particularly by the BRICS formation."We also remember how many times South Africa's access to AGOA was under question by the US administration, particularly for remaining neutral on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, the termination of AGOA "can hurt both sides," since the US imports "strategic resources" from South Africa, such as uranium. To hear what the expert has to say, check out the entire episode of the AfroVerdict podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Podcast Addict and Afripods.► Check out all the episodes of AfroVerdict.
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south africa, brics, african national congress (anc), frelimo, france, olaf scholz, donald trump, emmanuel macron, africa, podcasts, ghana, namibia, presidential election, elections, snap election, 2024 united states presidential election, germany, g20, brics summit, brics plus, brics expansion, brics summit 2024, southern africa, south west africa people's organisation (swapo), botswana, sahel region, african growth and opportunity act (agoa), аудио
south africa, brics, african national congress (anc), frelimo, france, olaf scholz, donald trump, emmanuel macron, africa, podcasts, ghana, namibia, presidential election, elections, snap election, 2024 united states presidential election, germany, g20, brics summit, brics plus, brics expansion, brics summit 2024, southern africa, south west africa people's organisation (swapo), botswana, sahel region, african growth and opportunity act (agoa), аудио
2024 Review: Democracy in African Elections, BRICS, G20, AGOA
Viktor Anokhin
Producer, Podcast host
Presenting a review of 2024, AfroVerdict host joins a political analyst to explore electoral outcomes across the continent, developments within BRICS, and how South Africa's chairmanship and the AU's membership in the G20 makes the West anxious.
2024 proved to be a "tumultuous" year with "changes sweeping" not only across the western world but throughout Africa as well, particularly in terms of electoral outcomes.
These include the Tories losing the election in the UK, French leader Macron being forced to call a snap election, Germany's Scholz government "under enormous pressure," as well as the "sweeping changes" in the US with Trump becoming president-elect, according to Dr. Oscar van Heerden, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for African Diplomacy and Leadership, University of Johannesburg.
Countries of Southern Africa were no exception to the "sea of change," as we saw the Botswana Democratic Party losing its power after 53 years of ruling the country, and a brand-new opposition party, namely the Umbrella for Democratic Change, taking the lead.
We've seen elections being contested in Mozambique, with FRELIMO under enormous pressure. There are calls for vote reading, and as we speak, there are still election protests, violence taking place in and around Maputo, Van Heerden continues.
In Namibia, however, SWAPO maintained its influence and control, despite losing popularity according to the election outcomes.
In South Africa, after 30 years of parliamentary majority, the ANC, although "not being kicked out of power," is losing significant support from 57% to 40%. This meant that for the first time the ANC had to form coalitions in order to form a government, which resulted in a Government of National Unity, consisting of ten political parties.
"It's quite a feat that the South Africans, with all their differences from all walks of life and different political orientations, could come together in the interest of the country to actually form a government and take the country forward," Dr. Van Heerden sums up.
Moving north, we observed "the expulsion of the French government [from] the Sahel region," which is a "positive result."
"Positive in the sense that the post-colonial, the neocolonial hold that France had over those countries, tapping into their resources, still exploiting the countries, keeping their foreign reserves in Paris and so on, all of that is seen within a negative lens, and so the expulsion of the French can only be interpreted as a positive," the expert explains.
In terms of Africa's overall role in geopolitics, it "learned a few lessons over the decades." According to Dr. Van Heerden, the African countries are no longer choosing sides when it comes to relations with the West or the East.
"I think that Africa is in a position now where it is beginning to say we want the best of both worlds," he explains.
As for the G20, chaired by the Republic of South Africa as of 2025, the summits thereof will now be hosted by BRICS member states three years in a row: India in 2023, Brazil in 2024, and South Africa next year.
This is no good news for the West, which is "responding to the changing geopolitical international system," as the time of the "unipolar world has come to an end," and multilateralism is being emphasized, "particularly by the BRICS formation."
"I think that they [Western countries] take umbrage to the fact that the BRICS countries in the G20 are beginning to mold the agenda towards a more equitable world order and not a world order that benefits only the West, which has been the case for many decades," Dr. Van Heerden remarks.
We also remember how many times South Africa's access to AGOA was under question by the US administration, particularly for remaining neutral on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, the termination of AGOA "can hurt both sides," since the US imports "strategic resources" from South Africa, such as uranium.
"If [AGOA] is going to be weaponized by the Americans in order to dictate to South Africa as to what it should and should not do with regard to foreign policy, I think then the South Africans' choice is very clear. AGOA will be sacrificed," the analyst says.
To hear what the expert has to say, check out the entire episode of the AfroVerdict podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.
► Check out all the episodes of AfroVerdict. 
