Trump’s arraignment has ‘serious implications’ for good governance in Africa
Chris Maroleng, executive director of Good Governance Africa, talks with The World’s host Marco Werman about how Trump’s legal woes impact the rule of law in the sub-Saharan region of the continent.
Donald Trump conspired to illegally influence the 2016 election through a series of hush money payments designed to stifle claims that could be harmful to his candidacy, prosecutors said Tuesday in unsealing a historic 34-count felony indictment against the former US president.
The payments, said Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy, were part of “an unlawful plan to identify and suppress negative information that could have undermined his campaign for president.”
Trump, stone-faced and silent as he entered and exited the Manhattan courtroom, said “not guilty” in a firm voice while facing a judge who warned him to refrain from rhetoric that could inflame or cause civil unrest.
The next court date is Dec. 4, though it is not clear if he will be required to appear.
Across the African continent, leaders, lawmakers and ordinary citizens are following the Trump news to see what lessons it offers for the strength of the rule of law.
Chris Maroleng, executive director of Good Governance Africa, talks with The World’s host Marco Werman about how Trump’s legal woes impact the rule of law in the sub-Saharan region of the continent.
Marco Werman: Can you say whether Trump’s legal battles are making headlines in capitals across sub-Saharan Africa?
Chris Maroleng: Absolutely. I think one of the key things about it is that it has really serious implications around issues related to governance and the rule of law, not just in the United States, but really here on the African continent. And that’s why there’s so much interest, because not just of the popularity or can I say, the infamous nature of President Trump, but really because it has many themes that relate to the state of governance on the African continent.
So, we’ll get to that in a second. But just give us a sense of what the tone of the news coverage is right now.
Well, I think the tone of the news coverage has really been one of, kind of like a fly on the wall looking at American institutions working. And I think it’s almost something that we look at with somewhat of envy in sub-Saharan Africa, because this principle of no one, even a former president being above the law, is not something that has been popularly experienced across the African continent.
So, you said earlier that Trump’s arraignment on Tuesday, as well as his other legal problems, has implications on good governance in Africa. Talk more about that.
One concept that is really championed by countries like China and indeed Russia, which talks to governance efficiency, that is that the state must simply deliver services to the people. It contrasts the creation of what you might describe as a false dichotomy with the concept of inclusive governance, which is a form of governance that talks about accountability, transparency, the rule of law and human rights. And ultimately, what we’re seeing here is really a demonstration by the United States that you take the concept of inclusivity, of governance, that is, that leaders at the highest level must be held to account. They must be transparent in the systems of governance. And the rule of law must ultimately apply equally to all citizens.
So, a criminal investigation into a leader is not hypothetical for South Africans. Your country’s former president, Jacob Zuma, was charged with multiple counts of corruption and resigned while in office, only to face criminal charges dating back to a 1999 arms deal. Do you see any sort of parallel and the two former president’s legal woes?
One of the similarities was that these two presidents seemed to believe the laws did not apply to them, that somehow they were above the laws. But our courts and our judicial systems have actually spoken and have said that concept of good governance and inclusivity. And ultimately, the fact that all are equal before the law are principles that both countries clearly take seriously.
The jailing of Jacob Zuma sparked riots in parts of South Africa that left more than 300 people dead. He was freed on medical parole two months later, and now two courts have ruled that Zuma should return to prison. Do you think there’s any sort of lesson in Zuma’s saga for the US legal system?
The lessons are about the strength of institutions in both countries. Even though there were attempts to undermine the state, our institutions remain strong and steadfast. We’ve seen a similar thing in the United States, where a public insurrection, no less in Washington, DC, failed and the institution’s democracy ultimately prevailed.
But across Africa, we see that good and effective governance is a hard thing to muster.
Unfortunately, we have seen some backsliding. We’ve seen unconstitutional changes in power. That’s a euphemism for coups in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa. And this has really raised questions amongst proponents of good governance and democracy that this backsliding could usher in a narrowing of democratic space in some parts of Africa.
Do countries in your region look to the US still as an example to follow?
Less so. And this is really because of the backsliding that we’ve witnessed in the United States itself, especially the narrowing of these strong democratic principles, especially during the Trump administration.
I mean, the take from China is that Trump’s arraignment is proof of the dysfunction of democracy, especially democracy in the US. Are you hearing that anywhere in sub-Saharan Africa?
Yes, certainly, especially when you consider the fact that there is really a battle for the soul of governance in Africa, where on the one hand, they are the proponents of what you would call effective governance, which doesn’t really talk about higher order rights like accountability and transparency. On the other hand, there’s a huge contestation with proponents of inclusive governance similar to that of America, where accountability, transparency, rule of law, human rights are important. So, this basically means that as this contestation continues to intensify in Africa and geopolitically, as countries like China and Russia on the African continent really push for a less democratic form of governance, it’s important that we have proponents of democracy and good governance.
So, what lessons do you think sub-Saharan Africa’s least Democratic leaders see when they watch these multiple criminal investigations into President Trump? What’s their takeaway?
Well, that takeaway is definitely that in well, seven countries, irrespective of your position, the law has a long arm and will catch up with you. Ultimately, however, this has probably an unintended consequence in that it enhances the resolve of autocrats, dictators not just in Africa but across the world, to really try and entrench their undemocratic form of governance in order to avoid prosecution, which is really a sad, unintended lesson that they might be learning from this.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Invest in independent global news
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!
