Egypt & Democratisation process

 The whole world and Africa followed up the presidential elections recently held in Egypt and regarded them as a very important step towards democratic transformation and development not only in Egypt but also in the region and Africa as well.

 For the first time, multi-candidate presidential elections were held in Egypt where the Egyptian voters chose their candidate from among ten candidates, a matter that brought to end the Yes/No referendum system.

 These elections were held under full judiciary supervision as well as the participation of civil society institutions in monitoring them freely.

In addition, the state-owned mass media granted equal, impartial, transparent and fair access to all candidates. In fact, this important step which brought about a state of an unprecedented political move in the Egyptian political life was not the first step and it will not be the last on the way of democratic transformation in Egypt.

This is due to the fact that parliamentary life kicked off in Egypt in 1824 and the representatives of the Egyptian people practiced their role in the Egyptian parliament inaugurated in 1924. Hence, the latest presidential elections will not be the last step towards realizing democratic reform in Egypt.

 On his part, the elected president Hosni Mubarak announced after sworn in before the People’s Assembly in September 27, 2005 that he would go no realizing more constitutional and legislative reforms to deepen democratic practice and enable all Egyptians to make a better future for Egypt.

 The Egyptian presidential elections which the whole world witnessed its impartiality and fairness coped with the current developments on the international arena which boost freedom, democracy, the respect of human rights, freedom of expression, economic liberation as well as the participation of civil society institutions in decision-making.

The Egyptian presidential elections were part of a deep-rooted African struggle which targeted at deepening democratic practice all over Africa.

In 1988, the African leaders issued "Khartoum Declaration" to ensure the basic and individual freedoms and democratic participation.

In 1990, the African leaders also issued "Arusha Declaration" which adopted an African charter for the popular participation and democratic transformation.

 In 1990, the then Organization of African Unity issued "Addis Ababa Declaration" which stressed the necessity of the presence of a political framework to ensure the respect of human rights and the rule of law.

 In 2000, the African Summit held in Lome stressed the importance of the democratic rule in Africa.

 In the conference of the speakers of the African parliaments held in Egypt in 2004, President Mubarak confirmed the necessity of granting peoples more freedom and democracy to boost the efforts of development in Africa.

 And finally, in Sirte Summit in 2005, the African leaders highlighted the continued efforts exerted to boost human rights and the popular participation in decision-making.

All the aforementioned steps confirm that Africa is on the right track, as the African steps to realize democratic, political, social and economic reforms are on the rise. Indeed, the African peoples who acted against racial discrimination are able to build a better future for their Dark Continent.