As military coups, contested elections, and shrinking freedoms plague parts of Africa, Senegalese journalist Ousmane Ndiaye has sounded the alarm in his newly released book, Africa Against Democracy: Myths, Denial, and Dangers. The work examines the continent’s democratic decline and the growing acceptance of anti-democratic rhetoric among leaders and citizens alike.
A Continent in Regression?
Since 2020, Africa has witnessed nine successful military coups, with West Africa being the epicenter. Countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have seen military juntas openly reject democracy, replacing elected governments with authoritarian rule. But Ndiaye argues that the threat isn’t limited to soldiers seizing power—even elected leaders are undermining democratic norms.
“We are currently observing a quite unprecedented democratic regression,” Ndiaye warns. “In the Sahel—Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger—we are seeing an explicit and official rhetoric of rejecting democracy.”
The Illusion of Democracy
Beyond military regimes, Ndiaye points to leaders like Tunisia’s Kais Saied, who, despite coming to power through elections, have rolled back freedoms, repressed dissent, and used democratic institutions as facades for autocracy.
“On paper, the institutions are democratic—there’s a parliament, an electoral commission,” Ndiaye says. “But in practice, nothing in the way they operate is democratic.”
Hope Lies in Citizen Action
Despite the grim outlook, Ndiaye finds hope in Africa’s youth and civil society. From Togo to Senegal, young activists are challenging long-entrenched rulers and demanding accountability.
“For me, hope is the awakening of the citizens,” he says. “Not just holding an ID or voter card, but being aware of one’s rights and duties—and seizing the possibility of exercising them.”
As Africa stands at a crossroads between authoritarianism and democratic renewal, Ndiaye’s book serves as both a warning and a call to action: the future of democracy may depend on whether citizens can reclaim it.
