Africa's Democracy in 2025: Progress, pushback and the battle for credibility

By 2025, democracy in Africa stood at a crossroads—marked by both resilience and regression in almost equal measure.

The continent emerged from what many described as an “electoral super cycle” in 2024, during which 13 African countries elected new heads of state. Peaceful transfers of power in Botswana, Liberia, Ghana and Senegal, alongside South Africa’s first-ever governing coalition, appeared to signal growing democratic maturity.

Yet beneath these encouraging milestones lay deepening public frustration. Afrobarometer surveys consistently show that while most Africans still prefer democracy over authoritarian rule, confidence in how democracy is practised continues to erode.

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“People are not rejecting democracy itself; they are rejecting systems that deliver elections without accountability,” governance and security analyst Dr Kwesi Aning explains.

“When democratic institutions fail to improve lives, legitimacy begins to weaken,” he adds.

A Mixed Electoral Record

In 2025 alone, voters in nine African countries went to the polls, producing sharply contrasting outcomes. Malawi emerged as a democratic bright spot. Former President Peter Mutharika’s return to power, secured with approximately 57% of the vote, followed elections widely praised as free and fair. The swift concession by incumbent Lazarus Chakwera reinforced Malawi’s reputation as a regional model for peaceful democratic transitions.

Elsewhere, however, elections raised serious concerns. In Tanzania, President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of the October polls with an improbable 98% of the vote. The results were followed by violent crackdowns on protesters, internet shutdowns, and the arrest of opposition figures. Cameroon’s elections similarly attracted criticism over repression and limited political competition.

“When results stretch credibility, citizens lose faith not just in leaders, but in democracy itself,” says Professor Nic Cheeseman, Professor of Democracy at the University of Birmingham. Electoral manipulation is one of the fastest ways to hollow out democratic norms,” he said.

Youth at the Forefront of Political Dissent

Across the continent, young people have become the most vocal critics of governance failures. So-called “Gen Z protests” in Kenya and Madagascar highlighted growing anger over inequality, unemployment, corruption and political exclusion.

“These movements show that Africa’s youth are politically engaged, but not politically represented,” notes political sociologist Rosemary Okello.

“They are using digital tools to bypass traditional gatekeepers and force accountability.”

In Madagascar, youth-led protests triggered by water and electricity shortages escalated into a full-blown political crisis, culminating in President Andry Rajoelina fleeing the country. The military’s subsequent suspension of democratic institutions marked yet another coup on the continent.

Coups, Counter-Coups and Regional Pushback

Despite widespread public support for democratic governance, coups and attempted coups remain a troubling trend. Events in Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and Benin underscored persistent institutional fragility across parts of the continent.

Yet 2025 also revealed a more assertive regional response. Nigeria’s decisive intervention under the banner of ECOWAS to foil a coup attempt in Benin signalled a shift from rhetorical condemnation to active enforcement of democratic norms.

“This was a watershed moment,” says Comfort Ero, President of the International Crisis Group. It showed that regional bodies can act decisively when political will aligns with democratic principles.”

Authoritarianism by the Ballot

In several countries, democratic erosion has occurred not through tanks on the streets, but through manipulated ballots and legal manoeuvring.

In Cameroon, 92-year-old President Paul Biya secured an eighth term amid low voter turnout and heavy repression.

In the Central African Republic, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra extended his rule after removing term limits, despite opposition boycotts and allegations of voter intimidation.

“These are civilian coups carried out through legal engineering,” argues constitutional law expert Dr Aisha Abdullahi.

“They preserve the appearance of democracy while dismantling its substance.”

Disinformation and Foreign Influence

Another growing threat to democratic credibility is coordinated disinformation, increasingly amplified by artificial intelligence. Pro-military and pro-authoritarian narratives—often linked to Russian-backed networks—have flooded social media, particularly in the Sahel.

“Disinformation doesn’t just distort facts; it reshapes political loyalties,” says journalist and author Michaela Ashkar.

“When democratic failure is blamed on the idea of democracy itself, authoritarian alternatives become more attractive.”

In Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, military juntas that promised security have instead presided over worsening violence, with Russian mercenary involvement linked to serious human rights abuses.

Democracy’s Unfinished Test

Africa’s democratic journey in 2025 is neither a story of collapse nor of triumph—but one of intense contestation.

Citizens continue to demand accountability. Regional institutions are beginning to assert themselves. Yet elections alone are no longer sufficient to sustain democratic legitimacy.

“Democracy in Africa will survive,” Dr Aning concludes, “but only if it delivers dignity, opportunity and justice—not just ballots.”

As the continent moves beyond election cycles into an era of democratic reckoning, the true test will lie not in how votes are cast, but in how power is exercised once they are counted.