African Governments

African Governments

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• I can explain the type of governments in African countries, including South Africa (parliamentary democracy), Nigeria (presidential democracy), and Kenya (presiential democracy).

• I can explain the role of citizens in choosing the leaders of South Africa (parliamentary democracy), Nigeria (presidential democracy), and Kenya (presiential democracy).

​Africa's Varied Governments

• By the start of WWI in 1914, nearly all of Africa had been colonized by European nations

  • under these European countries, Africans had little to no say in the laws that were made

• Today there are more than 50 independent nations in Africa

  • Some have experienced decades of political & economic conflict, which has led to autocratic governments with powerful dictators & violent military regimes

  • Other nations have established democracies, where citizens are able to vote & elect leaders and their rights are protected

    • there are both parliamentary & presidential democracies in Africa

​Kenya & Nigeria - Presidential Democracies

• Kenya & Nigeria are BOTH presidential democracies today

• Both countries were colonized by Great Britain & gained their independence in the 1960s

  • Problem: The British divided these countries however they wanted, which led to ethnic group conflicts, unequal access to water & unequal access to land good for farming or growing crops

• Kenyan & Nigerian governments are facing power struggles & corruption as they are building their democracies

​Kenya & Nigeria - Presidential Democracies

• Kenya & Nigeria are BOTH presidential democracies today

• Both countries have constitutions designed to protect citizens' rights & freedoms

  • includes the right to vote & freedoms of speech, press, religion & assembly

  • these rights are not always protected!

• Threats to democracy: conflicts between ethnic & religious groups struggling for rights & resources and government corruption

Multiple Choice

Do Kenya & Nigeria have the same type of government?

• Yes, they are the same

• No, they are NOT the same

​Kenya & Nigeria - Gender Inequality

• Many African countries view politics as a job for men & women are not encouraged to participate or express their opinions

• Even though women make up roughly 50% of the population,

  • only 23% of Kenya's gvt postions are filled by women

  • only 4% of Nigeria's gvt positions are filled by women

• Kenya is trying to increase female representation in gvt & has made some growth

• Nigeria's little growth is declining - it was 9%, but has gone back down to 4%

​Kenya - Presidential Democracy

Multiple Choice

Since Kenya is a Presidential Democracy, voters elect who?

• 
  only members of Parliament

• only the President

• 
  both memebers of Parliament & the President

• no one

​Nigeria - Presidential Democracy

Multiple Choice

Since Nigeria is a Presidential Democracy, voters elect who?

• 
  only members of Parliament, called the National Assembly

• only the President

• 
  both memebers of the National Assembly & the President

• no one

​South Africa - Parliamentary Democracy

• 1994 - South Africa became a parliamentary democracy

  • Nelson Mandela became the first president in the very first democratic election

• European colonization created & worsened conflict between various ethnic & tribal groups

  • and between black and whites during apartheid

• South Africa's democratic government shows it has made great progress, but it still has challenges

• Challenges: abuses of power, corruption, racial inequality

​South Africa - Gender Inequality

• Women make up 51% of South Africa's population

• After the first democratic election in 1994, women held 46% of parlimentary seats

  • In the 2021 elections, this went up to 47%

• Even though female representation has remained close, women face unfair & unequal treatment

  • there is gender-based violence throughout South Africa

​South Africa - Parliamentary Democracy

Multiple Choice

Since South Africa is a Parliamentary Democracy, voters elect who?

• 
  only members of Parliament

• only the President

• 
  both memebers of Parliament & the President

• no one

Multiple Choice

What type of government do Kenya, Nigeria, AND South Africa have?

• autocracy

• democracy

• dictatorship

• theocracy

Multiple Select

Select two ways that colonialism impacted the governments of Kenya, Nigeria, & South Africa. (Pick 2!)

• inequality & racism

• increase in trade

• conflicts between ethnic groups & tribes

• boost in foreign resources

Multiple Choice

Which is NOT a reason that it is important to have a balance of men and women in government positions?

• less war and violence between countries

• changes in issues related to gender violence

• differing perspectives & equal representation of the population

• greater gender equality in employment & decision making