Tribalism vs Democracy in Africa: The Case of Liberia and Sierra Leone

Abstract

Both Liberia and Sierra Leone are still grappling with legacies of brutal civil wars (1989 to 2003), with tribalism - the unfair treatment of others on grounds of tribal identity differences - widely regarded as a primary driver of these conflicts. The goal of this study is to find out how the Liberian and Sierra Leonean diaspora in Australia offer solutions to the problem of tribalism, drawing from their own exposures to Australia. The study revolves around the main research question: ‘To what extent, if at all, is tribalism perceived to be a major cause of conflict in your country?’ Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 Liberians and 25 Sierra Leoneans across Australia. The thematic content analysis technique was used to categorize themes and patterns across the various interview scripts. One of the main findings was that tribalism promotes conflict by demoting democracy: 76% of the Liberians and 73% of the Sierra Leoneans pparticipants were of the view that the consolidation of a strong civil society and sound democratic culture were essential for a sustainable state of peace and stability in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and that tribalism was thwarting the growth of a strong democratic culture in their home countries. To build a genuine democratic culture in Liberia and Sierra Leone, tribal politics must be banished. Educational and legislative measures should be instituted to stem ethnic voting in national elections.