Russ Feingold: “I would like to note the many challenges to democracy we are seeing across Africa today. I have long said that promoting…”

“I would like to note the many challenges to democracy we are seeing across Africa today. I have long said that promoting and supporting democratic institutions should be a key tenet of our engagement with Africa, as good governance is essential to Africa's stability and its prosperity. Africans are well aware of this, and that is why we have seen spirited democratic movements throughout the continent, even against great odds. It is also why African leaders have committed at the African Union with the Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance that they will work to enforce 'the right to participate in free, credible and democratic political processes.' The previous administration spoke often about its commitment to promote democracy in Africa and throughout the world. The current administration, too, has committed to encourage strong and sustainable democratic governments, though it has rightly acknowledged that democracy is about more than holding elections. In his speech in Ghana, President Obama said: America will not seek to impose any system of government on any nation--the essential truth of democracy is that each nation determines its own destiny.”