The state of democracy in Africa is arguably one of the most controversial and difficult questions facing the continent today. Afrobarometer’s public opinion surveys done in 34 countries on the continent show that, on the whole, democracy is in demand by most African citizens, even if it is also undersupplied by African leaders and political elites.
Democracy is important for providing citizen security and safety. One reason for this is that democratic systems are based on a balance of powers between different branches of government, such that open political competition and the exercise of civil liberties are possible.
While many countries are making obvious progress to improve representative governance and enhance state-society relations, others appear to be regressing. On the one hand, African countries have made great strides in election quality, peaceful transfers of power, and respect for fundamental freedoms and civil liberties since most of them transitioned from military, single-party, or personalist regimes to multiparty competitive systems in the early 1990s. On the other hand, key indicators of political rights and civil liberties in Africa have been in decline since 2006.
• What have been the successes and the challenges of establishing and maintaining democracy in your country/region? What factors explain the success stories and the challenges in your country or region?
• How have leaders in your country/region either enhanced or inhibited democratic governance generally and in security sector?
• What practical measures can your country/region take to entrench democratic governance in general and in security sector in particular?
• What role can and should the security sector play in shaping the cultures and practices of democracy in their country? Do young, emerging leaders have any particular ideas, perspectives, skills, or experiences that they can bring to the table?
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