Democracy in Decline: Africa’s Election Year Challenges

Title: "Democracy in Decline: The Role of Civil Society in Africa’s Elections"

Summary:

As Africa prepares for a year of elections in 19 countries, concerns about the state of democracy on the continent are growing. Abdou Aziz Cissé, advocacy officer at AfricTivistes, a pan-African civil society organization, shares his assessment of the electoral year and the role of civil society in promoting democracy.

Key Points:

1. Democracy in decline: Cissé notes that democracy is in decline in many parts of the world, including Africa, due to factors such as the rise of populism, the fragility of institutions, and economic and social tensions.
2. Electoral challenges: The year of elections in Africa has seen a mix of advances and setbacks, with allegations of electoral fraud, manipulation, and political interference in several countries, including Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritania, Rwanda, and Tunisia.
3. Role of civil society: Cissé emphasizes the crucial role of civil society in promoting democracy, including through election observation, voter education, and combating disinformation.
4. Civic tech initiatives: AfricTivistes has been advocating for the use of technology to make democracy more inclusive, and has produced documentary films and open-source publications to promote participation.
5. Support for democracy activists: Cissé stresses the need for international support for African democracy activists, who often face threats, harassment, and arrest, and highlights the importance of building solidarity and providing stable funding for their projects.

Quote:

"There is a growing public distrust of political institutions and their ability to address economic and social challenges. The concentration of power in the hands of a few people or groups also limits participation, particularly by young people and women."

Call to Action:

Get in touch with AfricTivistes through its website or Facebook page, and follow @afric_tivistes and @AbdouJCisse on Twitter to learn more about their work and how to support democracy activists in Africa.