Africa Must Be Treated as an Equal: We Are All Safer Under Democracy, Nana Addo Tells DUA Forum
Posted by JIM MWANDA
The DUA Forum 2025 in Nairobi spotlighted Africa’s struggle for democratic space, with leaders from Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya urging global partners to treat Africa as an equal in shaping a freer, more accountable future.
Nairobi Kenya
In Summary
- African leaders and policymakers at the DUA Forum 2025 called for renewed commitment to democracy and fair political competition across the continent.
- Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa urged that “Africa must be treated as an equal partner in global affairs — we are all safer under democracy.”
- Opposition leaders from Uganda and Tanzania decried shrinking democratic space and state-led repression.
- A joint declaration promoting stronger Africa–Europe ties and accountable governance is expected at the close of the forum.
The Democratic Union of Africa (DUA) Forum 2025 in Nairobi, calls for greater political freedom reverberated through discussions on Africa’s evolving role in a multipolar world. With more than 300 participants from over 25 political parties.
The gathering, co-hosted by Kenya’s KANU Party, led by Senator Gideon Moi, and the Democratic Party of Kenya, led by Rt. Hon. Justin Muturi, sought to fortify center-right cooperation and deepen democratic values across the continent.
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Delivering a keynote address, Lord Michael Ashcroft, Honorary Chairman of the International Democracy Union (IDU), outlined the strategic and operational challenges confronting Africa’s center-right movements, calling for stronger party systems and citizen trust.
Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa gave out a firm appeal for respect and equality in global partnerships, noting that
“Africa should be treated as an equal, not a junior partner. We are all safer under democracy.”
From Uganda, Patrick Oboi Amuriat, president of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), delivered a stark warning on the shrinking civic space across the region.
“We are witnessing the weaponisation of the criminal justice system to harass political opponents and tilt the electoral field,” he said, urging the international community to denounce systematic repression.
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Echoing that concern, a statement from Tundu Lissu; In a written message from Tanzania’s opposition figure Tundu Lissu, read on his behalf, he cautioned that
“East Africa risks turning its prisons into political classrooms if leaders continue to silence dissent instead of confronting corruption and inequality.”
His statement drew applause from delegates, who viewed it as a reminder of the cost of political courage.
Hon Gideon Moi KANU Party Leader with Hon. Justin Muturi Former Kenya Attorney General
Photo Credits: Hon Justin Muturi X account
Kenya, serving as this year’s host, stood as both an example and a test case for how democratic dialogue can survive amid polarization. Speakers from across the continent called for stronger institutions, transparent governance, and a collective front against the criminalization of opposition politics.
As discussions move toward adopting a joint Africa–Europe declaration, delegates emphasized that democracy remains the continent’s most reliable safeguard for peace, stability, and human dignity — principles that can’t be traded away in the name of power or convenience.
