During the Africa Drive for Democracy Conference – Elders Retreat in Arusha, Tanzania, Afrobarometer CEO Joseph Asunka addressed participants and shared concerning news about the declining satisfaction with democracy across Africa. Asunka emphasized that this decline is eroding citizens’ confidence in democratic governance.
The conference provided a valuable platform for former heads of state and key elders to come together and engage in discussions about the current state of democracy in Africa. Their collective wisdom and imagination were harnessed to explore potential pathways for revitalizing and sustaining democracy on the continent.
Asunka highlighted several factors that might be contributing to the growing dissatisfaction with democratic rule in Africa.
These factors include non-compliance with presidential term limits, an increase in crime and insecurity, and rampant corruption within the political system. Addressing these issues is essential for restoring faith in democratic institutions and ensuring the prosperity of democratic governance in the region.
“The data shows that Africans’ commitment to democracy remains strong,” he said.
“However, governments and elected leaders have failed to meet these popular democratic aspirations. This has led to a decline in popular confidence in democratic governance and an increasing attraction to military rule and intervention.”
According to recent data from Afrobarometer, which surveyed 36 countries in 2021/2022, it was found that a significant majority of Africans, around two-thirds (66%), prefer democracy as their preferred form of government. Furthermore, there is a strong rejection of one-man rule (80%), one-party rule (78%), and military rule (67%) among the surveyed populations.
However, the data also reveals that only 38% of Africans express satisfaction with the functioning of democracy in their respective countries.
Noteworthy attendees at the conference included Joachim Chissano, Ernest Bai Koroma, Hailemariam Desalegn, and Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, who are former heads of state from Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, respectively. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan graced the event as the guest of honour.
During the conference, these esteemed leaders emphasized the importance of finding practical and actionable solutions to strengthen democracy in Africa. Their shared commitment reflects the recognition of the challenges and opportunities ahead in preserving and enhancing democratic governance on the continent.
“Unless and until African governments address the deficiencies in democratic governance and deliver essential public services to their people, democracy will remain an aspiration never to be meaningfully realised,” Hassan said.
Addressing the conference theme, “Securing Africa’s democratic future through learning and engaging,” Koroma said confronting these challenges demands collective action to preserve and strengthen democratic norms and institutions.
“We’re all in this together because we believe in the transformative power of democracy,” he said.
“No doubt democracy is not without obstacles, but together we must confront the
challenges that threaten its foundations: poor leadership, ineffective citizenship, corruption, poverty, political polarisation, rogue elections, and all the attendant ramifications of social
unrest and political instability.”
Throughout the discussions, participants acknowledged the vital role of African elders in shaping the continent’s democratic future.
Across a continent that has experienced 21 coups in eight years, Afrobarometer data show that the extent of citizens’ opposition to military rule has declined by 10 percentage points over the past decade.
Only three of the 36 surveyed countries (Liberia, Uganda, and Sudan)
have recorded significant increases in their resistance to military rule. Worryingly, a slim majority (53%) of citizens are willing to endorse military intervention if elected leaders abuse their power.
The Africa Drive for Democracy Conference – Elders Retreat served as a platform for constructive dialogue, seeking concrete approaches to advance democracy and ensure sustained democratic gains for Africa.