New research points to a striking democratic paradox across Africa: even as democratic performance declines in many countries, citizens are increasingly demanding greater accountability, participation and responsive governance.
By PR Times Africa
LAGOS, Nigeria — At a time when concerns over political instability, democratic backsliding and weakening institutions continue to shape conversations across Africa, new research suggests that citizens are not necessarily turning away from democracy.
In fact, in a number of African countries, demand for democratic governance is rising.
Morocco is among only seven African countries to record an increase in public demand for democracy over the past decade, according to findings from a report by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and African research network Afrobarometer.
The report found that the share of Moroccans meeting its definition of “full demand for democracy” increased by five percentage points between 2014/2015 and 2024/2025.
Morocco was joined by Uganda, Liberia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia and Madagascar among the countries where demand for democracy increased during the period studied.
The trend is particularly significant because it emerged against a broader decline in democratic performance across the 28 African countries examined.
A Democratic Paradox Is Emerging
The findings highlight one of the most important political contradictions shaping Africa today.
While confidence in institutions and satisfaction with the performance of democratic systems may be under pressure, the underlying desire for democratic governance appears to remain strongand, in some countries, is becoming even stronger.
This suggests that frustration with democracy does not necessarily mean citizens are rejecting democratic principles.
Instead, many Africans may be demanding that democracy work better.
For a growing number of citizens, democracy is no longer defined simply by the ability to vote or participate in periodic elections. Expectations increasingly extend to accountable leadership, stronger institutions, protection of rights, transparency, inclusion and meaningful participation in public life.
The message is clear: citizens do not simply want democracy in name; they want democracy that delivers.
Morocco’s Rising Demand
Morocco’s inclusion among the seven countries where democratic demand has increased offers an important perspective on how public expectations are evolving across the continent.
The five-percentage-point increase in support for “full demand for democracy” over the decade indicates a growing public appetite for the values associated with accountable and participatory governance.
It also reinforces a wider African reality: democratic expectations are changing.
Citizens are increasingly aware of their political rights and are more willing to question institutions, challenge leaders and demand greater transparency. The expansion of digital communication, access to information and a youthful population are helping to create a more politically conscious and connected public.
Across Africa, citizens are no longer passive observers of governance.
They are increasingly becoming active stakeholders in how their countries are run.
Seven Countries, One Clear Signal
The countries identified in the reportMorocco, Uganda, Liberia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia and Madagascarrepresent different political systems, regions and historical experiences.
Yet they share a notable trend: a growing demand among citizens for democratic governance.
That does not mean each country faces the same political circumstances or that their democratic institutions are equally strong. Rather, the common thread is the increasing expectation that governments should be accountable to the people they serve.
This distinction matters.
Africa’s democratic future cannot be measured by election calendars alone. The credibility and sustainability of democratic systems will increasingly depend on whether governments can respond to the everyday concerns of citizens.
Security. Jobs. Justice. Freedom. Inclusion. Public services. Economic opportunity.
These issues are becoming central to how citizens judge the effectiveness of democracy.
The Growing Democracy Delivery Gap
The research also draws attention to what could be described as Africa’s growing democracy delivery gapthe widening distance between what citizens expect from democratic governance and what they experience in practice.
Holding elections remains a fundamental part of democracy. But elections alone may no longer be enough to sustain public confidence.
Citizens increasingly expect elected leaders and public institutions to demonstrate results.
When governments fail to address corruption, insecurity, unemployment and inequality, public frustration can groweven where democratic structures formally exist.
That frustration, however, should not automatically be interpreted as a desire for authoritarian alternatives.
In many cases, citizens may be expressing dissatisfaction because they believe democracy has not yet fulfilled its promise.
They are demanding more accountability, not less.
More participation, not less.
More transparency, not less.
A Warning and an Opportunityfor African Leaders
For political leaders and policymakers, the findings should serve as both a warning and an opportunity.
The warning is that citizens are becoming increasingly difficult to govern through rhetoric alone. Public expectations are rising, and access to information means governments face greater scrutiny than ever before.
The opportunity is that rising demand for democracy can strengthen institutions if governments respond constructively.
A citizenry that demands accountability can help build better systems of governance. A more engaged public can encourage stronger institutions. And governments that treat public participation as an asset rather than a threat may be better positioned to build long-term trust.
The challenge for African leaders is therefore evolving.
It is no longer enough to defend democracy as an idea.
They must demonstrate its value through action.
Africa’s Next Democratic Test
The future of democracy across Africa may depend less on whether citizens still believe in its principles and more on whether institutions can meet the expectations of an increasingly informed and demanding population.
The findings from Morocco and the six other countries offer an important reminder: despite setbacks and frustrations, the appetite for democratic governance has not disappeared.
In some parts of the continent, it is growing.
That may be one of the most significant signals for Africa’s political future.
The challenge is not convincing citizens to want democracy. The challenge is ensuring that democracy delivers the accountability, opportunity, justice and inclusion they increasingly expect.
For Africa’s leaders, the message is becoming harder to ignore: citizens are not demanding less democracy. They are demanding a better democracy.
