OP 28 turianskyi_ENGLISH.indd

This research paper by Yarik Turianskyi of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the Country Review Reports (CRRs) of the first six states to undergo the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM): Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Algeria, South Africa, and Benin. The author identifies a systemic gap between constitutional intentions and practical governance, arguing that a lack of 'constitutionalism' leads to executive dominance and the erosion of checks and balances.

• There is a significant discrepancy between the democratic principles written into national constitutions and the actual practice of governance in the reviewed states. The author identifies a lack of 'constitutionalism'—the absence of rules to limit government authority—which allows formal rules to be manipulated for the benefit of elites.
• The separation of powers is frequently undermined in practice, leading to an unbalanced system where the executive branch dominates the legislature and judiciary. In Algeria, the president can legislate by decree; in Benin, the president exerts marked influence over both other branches; and in Ghana, the fusion of executive and legislative roles (with 88 ministers also serving as MPs) limits parliamentary independence.
• Electoral systems and practices are plagued by weaknesses that allow for manipulation and instability. Issues include significant variations in constituency size in Kenya, the influence of party lists over voter accountability in South Africa, and the lack of secure voters' registers in Benin. Ethnic politics also heavily influence voting patterns in Ghana and Kenya.
• Corruption is a pervasive, cross-cutting issue across all reviewed states, often driven by low public sector salaries and a lack of effective sanctions. Kenya is perceived as the most corrupt of the group, with corruption extending across the executive, legislature, judiciary, and military.
• Human rights abuses are common, particularly regarding the marginalization of women and children. Violence against women is reported in all six countries, and children face exploitation and barriers to education, such as school fees in Algeria and Ghana. Refugee rights are also a concern, with South Africa experiencing rising xenophobia.
• Land ownership and distribution are sources of conflict in nearly all reviewed states. These conflicts stem from nationalization disputes in Algeria, legal flaws in Benin, ethnic competition for resources in Kenya, and high population density in Rwanda.
• Public service delivery is hindered by bureaucracy, a lack of decentralization, and staffing shortages. In Algeria and Benin, decentralization is described as ineffective, while South Africa struggles with a shortage of skilled civil servants.
• The author questions the efficacy of the APRM if member states disregard its recommendations. The paper notes that the APRM successfully acted as an early warning system for violence in Kenya and South Africa, but the respective governments failed to act on the warnings.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (n.d.). OP 28 turianskyi_ENGLISH.indd. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/Occasional-Paper-28.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. OP 28 turianskyi_ENGLISH.indd. n.d. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/Occasional-Paper-28.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=OP 28 turianskyi_ENGLISH.indd |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/Occasional-Paper-28.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairsndturianskyienglishindd, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{OP 28 turianskyi\_ENGLISH.indd}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/Occasional-Paper-28.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }