Nigeria and the United Nations have signed a new Regional Partnership for Democracy, aimed at strengthening elections, political stability, and democratic institutions in West Africa. The agreement was announced in Abuja, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, highlighting Nigeria’s commitment to building a stable and people-centered democracy.
The partnership is designed to help African nations overcome challenges such as weak institutions, low citizen participation, and political violence. Despite national and regional reforms, issues like flawed elections and unconstitutional government changes continue in several countries. The new pact seeks to address these problems by promoting democracy rooted in African values.
Minister Tuggar described the agreement as part of President Bola Tinubu’s vision for boosting democracy on the continent. The Regional Partnership for Democracy Secretariat will operate from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while a technical team will be based at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Abuja. Although Nigeria and the UN are the first to sign, the pact will be open to other West African countries and is expected to expand to include more African regions seeking lasting democratic solutions.
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