African Observers Comment on US Presidential Campaign | Voice of America - English
Since the end of the Cold War, a number of African countries have embraced multi-party democracy.  Several African officials from the new democracies are observing the U.S. election season and VOA Reporter William Eagle asked some of them for their views.U.S.
U.S. presidential campaigns are long and expensive. newspaper estimates thatthis year candidates have raised hundreds of millions of dollars fromindividuals and corporate interests in the United States. By contrast, in African democracies theelectoral machinery and political parties often receive support from foreigndonors. AbdoulayeDiop, Mali's ambassador to the United States, says "Here [in the USA] the amount of money byeach candidate or party is huge. It isvery impressive. Also, the primaryprocess has been long. For us, thecampaign is about 35 to 40 days. Hereit is almost two years of campaigning before the election." On theother hand, Ambassador Diop is impressed by the commitment of many Americans towork for free in support of their party's candidate. "Thelevel of volunteerism in U.S. elections impresses me," says Diop. "Many [campaignsupporters] pay their own [airline and hotel] and campaign door to door. I would love to see that in Mali - citizensgetting involved in that way." Africanobservers note cultural differences among African and American voters. A poll bythe Rasmussen publishing firm shows that about 61 percent of American voterssaid the candidate's wife is somewhat important in determining their vote. Twenty-two percent said the spouse is veryimportant. Senator IkeEkweremadu is the deputy president of the Nigerian Senate. He is surprised at the amount of attentiongiven to prospective first ladies, who make prominent appearances at theconventions and campaign stops. "InNigeria, attention is on the candidate, not on the spouse," says the Nigerian senator. "In Nigeria, it is a different maritalsituation. Some [politicians] who are Muslimhave four wives. So where do youstart? Among the four wives, it mightnot be clear who would be the first lady." SenatorEkweramadu says aside from corruption charges, moral values - such asfaithfulness to one's spouse - would not likely be on the mind of voters. Nor wouldtaxes, which are often at the forefront of the U.S. candidates' debates. Some of them argue that taxes are too highand must be cut to stimulate economic growth. Others argue that taxes should be raised to pay for deficits or forgovernment services. AmbassadorDiop says in his own country, Mali, there is a strong demand from the state tosupply social services. But he saysMali cannot raise enough in taxes to support all the development needed, sopoliticians must look elsewhere. "Itcan be an issue," says Diop, "but in our countries it is less about taxes than promising tocreate conditions for better living for the population like building moreroads, providing water, and ... job creation. It is more about improving the living conditions of the population, [andnot by bringing] down taxes." Africanobservers say they are surprised by the influence of U.S. commentators whofavor one candidate over another, and by negative advertising, which attacks anopponent's record or character. NigerianSenator Ike Ekweremadu says he does not think negative ads would go over inNigeria. He says, "Mostmedia houses would not have the courage to accept a negative advert. And ... in any lawsuits, the media housemust compensate you adequately. Mostmedia houses will not allow themselves to be used in that kind of negativecampaign because it could extract [serious] consequences." U.S. journalists seeking to publicize a candidate'srecord often rely on the Freedom of Information Act, which allows access to thegovernment's records. Nigerian reporters are also pressing for a Freedom ofInformation Bill (or FOIB). Senator Anthony George Manzo is the vice chairmanfor the Nigerian Senate's Committee on Information and Media. Hesaysthe bill is considered likely to pass, with reservations. "We now are processing a NigerianFreedom of Information Bill in our committee," he says, "and we hope to pass it in someform. But when you talk of the bill, public officials have a lot of anxiety. Wefeel sometimes the press wants to enjoy freedom without the responsibility thatgoes with it. The [press] should befactually correct, verifying and re-verifying their sources. We should havea FOIB passed, but then have strong libel laws to [ensure] people will havefacts." Mali'sambassador Abdulaye Diop says he hopes the U.S. campaign will raise issues ofinterest to Africans. That includescontinued support for the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which has led toan increase in exports from the continent to the United States, and support forstalled world trade talks. Ambassador Diop is hopeful. He says the current administration hastripled aid to Africa and both candidates have promised strong support.