Program Highlight
U.S. Fulbrighter Discusses Democracy in Africa
October 30, 2009
U.S. Fulbright scholar Dr. Abdulahi Osman, professor of comparative politics and African politics at the University of Georgia, discussed democracy in Africa with students of Dar es salaam-based Center for Foreign Relations October 30. The Center, funded by Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, trains mainly diplomats and civil servants from Tanzania and also from other African countries. In a presentation for about 100 participants, arranged by U.S. Embassy’s Information Resource Center (IRC), Dr. Osman, who currently conducting a research on post-conflict justice in Rwanda, spoke of the origins of the African democracy and the Western model of democracy. He also discussed the relationship between democracy and poverty, and said that where there is poverty there is no real democracy. Dr. Osman mentioned Omar Bongo of Gabon or Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe as examples of dictators who came to power through elections. Riziki Shahari, the Center’s Director of Studies and alumna of the International Leadership Visitor Program, started the follow-up discussion moderated by Ambassador Dr. Kiwanuka, Senior Lecturer at the Center and Fulbright alumnus.