Amii Omara-Otunnu

The 1999 elections in Nigeria and South Africa indicate that democracy can be sustained in Africa, argues Amii Omara-Otunnu in the following viewpoint. According to Omara-Otunnu, the actions of Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, South Africa’s former president Nelson Mandela, and Mandela’s successor Thabo Mbeki are proof that democratic governments in Africa can fight corruption and better their citizens’ lives. In addition, he maintains that the West must provide economic and diplomatic support to these nations and cease aiding nondemocratic leaders, in order to ensure that democracy can thrive throughout Africa. Omara-Otunnu is a history professor at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What actions did Obasanjo take upon entering office, as stated by the author?
2. According to statistics cited by Omara-Otunnu, what percentage of...