Democracy in decline in Africa, claims new study

African democracy is in decline, while digital authoritarianism in the continent is on the rise, according to a new study by CIPESA. The study, seen by Maghrebi.org, has been released during the so-called “year of democracy,” where 20 African nations have either held or are planning to hold elections,

The study says that the “surge of coups” in countries such as Guinea Bissau, Mali and Gabon has lead to “reports of significant human rights abuses, including repression of civil liberties and media freedom and a crackdown on political dissent by security forces.” The report also claims that there has been constitutional backsliding in countries including Tunisia and Rwanda, stating that these governments have “imposed significant restrictions on civil liberties and media freedom, and increased suppression of peaceful dissent.”

READ: New French PM promises tougher immigration laws

There was an acknowledgement of a small number of countries with “fairly stable democratic systems,” including South Africa, Namibia and Mauritius, although the study notes that the latter has postponed elections thrice since 2021.

Internet freedom is also a point of concern for CIPESA, who claim that government-imposed internet disruptions have been implemented to suppress democratic participation in some African countries. The study lists examples of this happening in 2023 and 2024, naming a list of countries including Gabon, Mozambique and Kenya as culpable.

It is also claimed that these restrictions have ramifications beyond democracy and voting, stating “they affect businesses, and impede financial transactions and other economic activities that rely on the internet and digital platforms. The disruptions also affect the delivery of healthcare, education and other essential services that rely on the internet. Ultimately, these shutdowns make a country’s environment hostile to foreign direct investment as prospective investors shy away from countries where disruptions are common.”

READ: Morocco suffers EU blow by court ruling over Western Sahara

On the other hand, the study noted that technological developments have increased voter engagement in countries including South Africa, Ghana and Namibia, which have introduced tools such as “biometric voter registration, digital identification, electronic tallying, and secure result transmission.” It says that, with these tools being used, the countries “can witness improved transparency, efficiency, and security, while key challenges hindering widespread adoption include infrastructure limitations, political instability, technical issues, cybersecurity concerns, and accessibility barriers, particularly in rural areas.”