As a Pan-African deeply committed to the progress of Africa and its member states, I believe that Africa’s socio-political advancement in this age of abundant information and artificial intelligence hinges not only on its political realities and their far-reaching effects but also on the kind of stories told and narratives promoted about the continent. While this piece is not entirely about storytelling and narrative building, it is imperative for Africans around the world to fully embrace the progressive ascension of electoral democracy in the African region and intentionally promote its positives. We should proudly acknowledge against preceding narratives that something good is emerging from Africa’s electoral democracy. This story must be told and documented for future generations to reference. Too often, it seems that when democracy succeeds in Africa, we barely notice, but when it falls short even by the lowest metric we spend days, weeks, and months analyzing the problems and re-echoing the false tagline: “Africa, a never-do-well for democracy.”
The year 2024 proved to be a pivotal moment in the advancement of electoral democracy across Africa, with 17 countries successfully organizing and conducting national elections, most of which delivered results in a free and fair contest despite opposing predictions. It was a year that highlighted the innate capacity of Africans to facilitate peaceful transitions of power through popular, free, fair, inclusive, and credible electoral processes. This was evident in Ghana, where the opposition, led by former President John Dramani Mahama, secured the presidency, unseating the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP); in Botswana, where the opposition party ended the Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) 58-year rule; in South Africa, where the African National Congress (ANC) lost its parliamentary majority for the first time, necessitating the move to seek coalition partners to form a government; and in other parts of the continent where elections were held.
According to the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, more than 180 million citizens were eligible to participate in the 2024 elections held across 17 countries in the African region. Although over 40% of this number were unable to vote for various reasons, the growing voter-eligible population predominantly composed of youth and the willingness expressed by citizens to engage in the electoral process remain a shining source of tangible hope for Africa’s electoral democracy. The successes achieved and the outcomes of the 2024 elections across the continent highlighted a progressive elevation of democratic ideals, reinforcing my belief that civic engagement and democratic dialogue are not merely political processes but essential lifelines and institutional pathways for sustaining electoral democracy in Africa and beyond.
*Elections: The New Voice for Young People in Africa*
In his “Give Us the Ballot” speech in May 1957, Martin Luther King Jr. said, “So long as I do not firmly and irrevocably possess the right to vote, I do not possess myself. I cannot make up my mind, it is made up for me. I cannot live as a democratic citizen, observing the laws I have helped to enact. I can only submit to the edict of others.” His words, spoken more than three score years ago, resonate deeply with the political reality of African youth, one they have endured, now understand, and continue to grapple with and fight for.
Lessons from the past year demonstrate that young Africans are taking their political destinies into their own hands by owning their politics and its processes. With over 40% of the total voters recorded across the 17 countries where elections were held being under 35 years old, it is fair to say that African youth are taking intentional political action, this time through the ballot. The youth have proven that elections are more than periodic events to choose leaders; they are a testament to the power of the people representing hope, a chance to reset, and an opportunity to redirect the course of governance toward progress for the benefit of the next generation.
The 2024 elections provided a platform for marginalized voices to be heard, for young people to take ownership of their destinies, and for the dreams of over 380 million citizens to find expression. Were the youth able to take advantage of this platform and the opportunities that 2024 provided? Absolutely! The outcomes of the elections held across the continent clearly reflect a new paradigm: a dispensation where leaders can be elected and held accountable, and citizens can demand governance that prioritizes their needs over personal or political interests. This progress was only possible because the youth were actively involved in demanding and working toward elections that were free, fair, and credible, as well as voting for candidates who aligned with their political and economic aspirations.
*Democracy: The Unfolding Institution and Opportunities that Lie Ahead*
Democracy is not just about majority rule; it is about creating systems that prioritize justice, fairness, and opportunities for all. As Mahatma Gandhi aptly puts it, “Democracy gives the weak the same chance as the strong.” It empowers citizens to become active participants in decision-making, shaping policies that reflect their realities and ambitions. It ensures that leaders are not mere rulers but servants of the people, bound by laws and principles that uphold the dignity and rights of every citizen while fostering opportunities for sustainable development.
I believe that true democracy is the antidote to decades of corruption, inequality, and bad governance in Africa. It offers young people a fair chance to challenge the status quo and demand transparency, accountability, and good governance. Africa’s youth population is one of the largest in the world, presenting an unparalleled opportunity for the youth to correct the wrongs of the past and write Africa’s democratic story on a clean canvas. A canvas intentionally designed to accommodate the opinions and aspirations of countrymen and women, irrespective of religion, ethnicity, culture, or disabilities. It is an opportunity to decisively tackle voter apathy, electoral violence, and weak institutions that threaten democracy’s promise for Africa.
This is why we must focus on empowering young citizens through civic education, ensuring that elections are popular and transparent, and building institutions capable of withstanding the pressures of bad actors. As history demonstrates, political revolutions and democratic transformations are often led by young people. Africa’s youth are her greatest resource, a resource that must be harnessed with skill, intellect, and grace to build sustainable systems that preserve and promote good governance in a progressive democracy.
Admittedly, democracy has its challenges; to deny that would be akin to denying the inherent imperfection of politics. The noisiness, exhaustive campaigns, tedious legislative procedures, political maneuvering, gerrymandering, and the often unequal representation of minority groups remain pressing issues. However, while these challenges exist, democracy, in its authenticity, offers an opportunity for remediation. Yes, democracy is noisy, but its noisy nature fosters constructive dialogue, a dialogue capable of addressing all internally generated issues effectively.
Democracy is not a Western concept far from it. It is a universal principle rooted in the idea that every human being deserves dignity, freedom, and a voice. This principle was generously exemplified through the republican and collaborative structures of governance in pre colonial Igbo and other settlements across Africa. As history affirms, ancient monarchies in Africa, though without elections, practiced different variations of indirect democratic leadership.
Democracy, like every fundamental aspect of humanity, has evolved over time, shaped by innovations and internal regulations that determine each society’s democratic trajectory. To keep up with modern-day democracy and the challenges it poses, African youth must rise above apathy and embrace the power of active citizenship in a modern democracy. We must demand systems that prioritize people over politics and governance that serve rather than rules.
We must collaborate with local stakeholders to make our elections more affordable and ensure the voting process is easier and more credible through the use of technology. African youth must believe in their democracy not as a foreign import, but as a local system that has evolved and work diligently to preserve it. We must be visibly involved in efforts to improve our elections and build the capacity needed to address prevalent issues.
In this dispensation, elections and democracy in Africa should not merely be about politicking; they should be about creating a legacy. They should aim to give the next generation a continent they can be proud of, one that upholds justice, equity, and the boundless potential of its vibrant youth.
As Nelson Mandela said, “The right of a person to vote freely in democratic elections, to express him or herself without hindrance, to gather and associate as one wishes, to move freely in one’s land these are precious freedoms that lift the human spirit and give expression to our God-given rights.”
It is through elections that we acknowledge our responsibility and pursue our aspirations with hope. Through democracy, we express that hope and bring our aspirations to life.
Daberechi Kingsley Ekejiuba is a Democracy and Good Governance Advocate;
Advocate of Free, Fair, Inclusive, Violence-free and Credible Elections in Nigeria and across Africa. He is an Alumnus of the Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship 2024
Leave a Reply