ABSTRACT
The current situation in Africa appears to be marked by the acceleration and the gigantic progress of what has been rightly called 'the long march towards democracy'. 1 To comprehensively evaluate and bring out the main features of the current situation, we shall elect the political criterion as it takes into account the relations of power within society. We shall not choose, from among the many parameters which are generally called upon to define a particular situation, the economic parameters which is often the case when faced with a severe 'economic crisis'. Nor shall we choose other possible parameters such as the level of cultural activity or of scientific and technological development. We shall favour political parameters.
