In its latest assessment of democratic sentiment across Africa, Afrobarometer’s flagship report on Democratic Trends reveals a troubling and urgent trend among the continent’s youth.
The survey, encompassing 39 nations, underscores a pervasive dissatisfaction with democratic governance among young people, who increasingly view military intervention as a viable and immediate response to civilian leadership shortcomings.
Key factors contributing to this disillusionment include widespread unemployment, pervasive corruption, and a perceived lack of governmental accountability. Boniface Dulani, Director of Surveys at Afrobarometer, highlighted these findings during the report’s launch in Accra on Wednesday, expressing deep concern over the implications of such sentiments.
Dulani emphasized that while many young Africans have never experienced military rule firsthand, they appear increasingly willing to consider it a temporary solution amid democratic failures. “About 53% of Africans,” Dulani noted, “believe that the military should intervene when governments fail or abuse their authority.” However, he also pointed out a concurrent trend of declining support for military rule, suggesting that such views are seen more as a stopgap measure than a permanent solution.
This data suggests that military rule is viewed as an alternative when civilian governance falters,” Dulani cautioned. He urged governments to take these concerns seriously, emphasizing the need for responsive governance as a key solution to regain public trust. “Governments must not take citizens for granted,” he stressed, adding that the initial optimism for democracy in the 1990s has given way to widespread questioning among the populace about the benefits of democratic systems.
The report’s findings underscore a critical juncture for African governments, urging proactive measures to address youth disillusionment and rebuild faith in democratic institutions. Failure to act could lead to a significant erosion of trust in democratic systems.
