Events
Building a world where people can enjoy fundamental human rights, political freedoms and economic prosperity in their countries will contribute to global prosperity and stability, as well as have a positive impact on migration flows. In the last decade, many countries have attempted the transition from autocratic states to democracy. Some have succeeded, some have failed.
In this The World Today, Cameroonian opposition leader Kah Walla takes a critical look at various examples of this in Africa—from Egypt, which is often qualified as a failed transition, to Burkina Faso’s and Tunisia’s various degrees of success, to ongoing attempts in Algeria and Sudan—to document lessons learned, key factors that enable non-violent revolutions, and critical steps to ensure the sustainability of a democratic transition.
Kah Walla
Cameroonian political leader, activist, and entrepreneur Kah Walla is internationally recognized for her expertise in leadership and strategy, her understanding of Africa’s development issues, and her strong stance for its women and youth. Part of Africa’s new generation of political leaders, Kah proposes bold, innovative solutions for the continent’s problems based on over twenty years-experience working on economic, social, and political issues in over twenty-five countries across Africa.
Her focus is on political transitions that enable countries to go from decades of autocratic rule towards governance that is democratic, inclusive, and equitable in the distribution of resources and access to opportunity. Developing models that will enable citizens who have been deprived of their rights for decades to go through a “healing” process that enables them to redefine citizenship, step into their power, and exercise both their rights and duties within a democratic framework that takes into account their particular history and culture.
Kah is also President of the Cameroon People’s Party, working daily to bring democratic change to a country that has not changed presidents in the last thirty-seven years. In 2011, Kah took her problem-solving skills to the highest level in Cameroon and became the first woman ever to run for the presidency of the nation. She is today one of the key leaders building the future of Cameroon. She is a currently a Global Shifts Visiting Fellow.
