Les conférences nationales en Afrique noire francophone : les chemins de la démocratie
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Abstract EN:
After the decolonizations, the african countries experienced in succession single-party authoritarian regimes (civil or military). These dictatorial regimes justified their political orientation by a determination to guarantee both the national unity and the economic and social development. The authoritarian exercise of power during three decades offered proof of the ineffectiveness of this system. The continuing economic crisis, the growing shortage of public resources and the trends of the international environment contributed to challenge these ossifying and liberticide modes of government. Right from the end eighties, the africans started to rise up against their leaders for claiming more liberty and democracy. More specifically, in the french-speaking black africa, after a successful start in benin, an original mode of democratic transition was demanded by the rebellious masses : the national conference. It relates to a mode of peaceful transition in which the ruling elite and the opposition parties gather together to discuss and deal with matters which concern the future of the country. Dreaded by the eulogists of the regimes in place, the national conference is considered by the "life blood" of the opposition as a group therapy for averting previous drifts (corruption, oppression, nepotism. . . ). Out of the eighteen countries which form the french-speaking black africa, only eight had recourse to the national conference - the organization was chaotic, the tenor of discussions rather disappointing and the results falling far short of the aroused expectations.
Abstract FR:
Apres les decolonisations, les pays africains connurent successivement des regimes autoritaires monopartisans (civils ou militaires). Ces dictatures justifiaient leur orientation politique par une determination a garantir a la fois l'unite nationale et le developpement economique et social. Tois decennies durant d'excercice autoritaire du pouvoir avaient apporte la preuve de l'inefficacite de ce systeme. La crise economique persistante, la rarefaction des ressources publiques et les evolutions de l'environnement international favoriserent la remise en cause de ces modes de gouvernement sclerosants et liberticides. Des la fin des annees 80, les africains vont commencer a se soulever contre leur dirigeants pour reclamer plus de liberte et de democratie. Plus specifiquement, en afrique noire francophone, apres un debut reussi au benin, un mode de transition democritique original est reclame par les masses populaires revoltees : la conference nationale. C'est un mode de transistion pacifique ou l'elite dirigeante et les oppositions se reunissent pout dialoguer sur l'avenir du pays. Redoute par les thuriferaires des regimes en place, la conference nationale est consideree par les "forcevives" de l'opposition comme une therapie de groupe pour conjurer les derives anterieures (corruption, oppression, nepotisme. . . ). Sur les dix-huit pays que compte l'afrique noire francophone, huit seulement ont en recours a la conference nationale. Le deroulement y fut chaotique, le contenu des debats assez decevant et les resultats bien en deca des espoirs suscites.