Afrobarometer survey shows democracy at risk

A majority of Africans would support a military takeover if their elected leaders fail to act in their interests, according to a recent Afrobarometer survey. Bloomberg Africa reports that while two-thirds of respondents find military intervention undesirable as a regular form of governance, faith in democracy is waning across the continent amid growing corruption concerns.

The survey reveals that despite a decline, 66% of Africans still prefer democracy over other systems. However, support has dropped by seven percentage points over the past decade in 30 countries, with significant decreases in South Africa and Mali. While 66% oppose military rule, this number has fallen, particularly in Mali and Burkina Faso. Notably, 53% of Africans are open to military intervention if elected leaders abuse power.

Support for democratic norms, including presidential accountability, multiparty competition, term limits, and media freedom, remains steady, though support for elections has decreased. Only 45% of Africans view their countries as mostly or completely democratic, and a mere 37% are satisfied with how democracy functions. Both metrics have seen declines over the past decade, with notable drops in Botswana, Mauritius, and South Africa. Other democratic indicators, such as the quality of elections and presidential accountability, have also seen declines.

Citizen dissatisfaction with democracy is closely linked to perceived declines in socioeconomic and political performance. While support for democracy is resilient to economic and social issues, adverse political changes like declining election quality and increasing corruption significantly impact democratic support.

Afrobarometer’s findings emphasize the need for African governments to restore faith in accountable, democratic governance to sustain their democratic projects.