Africa cannot silence the guns while money dominates politics — Dr. Ibn Chambas
The African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, has cautioned that Africa cannot achieve lasting peace if money continues to dominate its political systems.
According to him, the rising influence of money in politics is weakening democratic institutions, undermining public trust and creating conditions that fuel instability and conflict across the continent.
Dr. Ibn Chambas made the remarks on Wednesday, July 16, while delivering the closing address at the High-Level Regional Convening on the Financialization of Politics in Africa: Advancing Reform, Transparency, Accountability and Democratic Integrity, held in Accra from July 14 to 16.
"We cannot silence the guns in Africa while money is doing all the talking in our politics," he said.
He explained that when access to public office is determined by financial power instead of competence and ideas, election outcomes become disputed, citizens lose confidence in democratic institutions and constitutional order comes under threat.
The former United Nations diplomat noted that the challenge of political financing is not merely a governance issue but one that directly affects peace and security on the continent.
Dr. Ibn Chambas also welcomed the adoption of the Accra Declaration on Regulating Financing of Politics to Advance Democratic Integrity in Africa, describing it as an important step towards greater transparency and accountability in political financing.
However, he cautioned that declarations alone would not bring change unless governments and institutions translate their commitments into concrete reforms.
"Africa's archives are heavy with eloquent commitments and declarations. What will distinguish the Accra [Declaration] is not what we proclaim today, but what we can prove by this time next year," he stated.
The three-day event, convened by the Open Society Foundations, CDD-Ghana, Transparency International Ghana, and other partners, brought together electoral management bodies, anti-corruption agencies, political parties, civil society organisations, development partners, academics, the media and private sector representatives from across Africa.
Participants adopted the Accra Declaration, which calls for coordinated continental action to strengthen transparency, accountability and integrity in political financing.
The declaration also commits stakeholders to developing a continental Model Law on Political Finance under the leadership of the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption.
The declaration further urges governments, political parties, electoral commissions, technology companies, financial institutions, civil society organisations and the media to implement reforms that reduce the influence of money in politics and safeguard democratic integrity across Africa.