In many corners of Africa, democracy is often mistaken for the event of voting day, a festive moment of long queues, ink-stained thumbs, and hopeful promises. Yet, the real essence of democracy lies not in these ceremonial acts but in what follows: the daily rigour of governance, accountability, and justice. Like a house built on sand, democracy without strong institutions is destined to collapse under the weight of its contradictions. For Africa, the true strength of its democratic enterprise rests not only in electoral frequency but in the robustness and independence of its institutions, judiciaries that can uphold the law impartially, legislatures that can check executive excesses, and a vibrant civic space that ensures the people remain the pulse of the state.
According to the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) 2024 report, several African democracies have stagnated or backslid due to weak institutions despite holding regular elections. Only 8 of 54 African countries are considered liberal democracies with strong institutional frameworks. Conversely, over 25 countries show signs of electoral authoritarianism, where elections are held, but fundamental rights, judicial independence, and legislative power are severely compromised. The Afrobarometer 2023 survey further reveals that Africans believe elections help produce responsive leadership, a sharp indicator of the disconnect between democratic rituals and institutional substance.
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The Judiciary: Sentinel of Justice and Rule of Law
Like the spine in a human body, the judiciary provides structure, balance, and uprightness to the state. Without its independence and authority, governance degenerates into arbitrary rule. Unfortunately, across many African countries, the judiciary remains a vulnerable institution, too often manipulated by the executive or compromised through political appointments and budgetary dependence.
Ghana’s judiciary, long regarded as a continental model, was shaken in April 2025 when President John Mahama suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. Critics, including legal bodies like the Ghana Bar Association and international observers such as Human Rights Watch, decried the action as lacking constitutional transparency and undermining judicial independence. The incident raised alarm in a country that had previously enjoyed high judicial credibility under the 1992 Constitution.
In contrast, Malawi’s judiciary emerged as a democratic hero when its Constitutional Court annulled the rigged 2019 presidential elections, citing gross irregularities. The Supreme Court’s affirmation of the verdict, leading to a fresh, credible election in 2020, demonstrated what judicial independence could look like in practice. This landmark ruling, praised by the African Union and international observers, remains a beacon for institutional courage across the continent.
Legislatures: The Crucible of Accountability
If the judiciary is the spine, the legislature is the heartbeat of a democracy, channelling citizen interests, authorising state actions, and checking executive power. A robust parliament prevents the concentration of power and ensures a continuous dialogue between the governed and those who govern.
Botswana set an inspiring example in its 2024 general elections when opposition parties formed a coalition that ended the Botswana Democratic Party’s 58-year grip on power. This political transformation was made possible by legislative transparency and a parliamentary culture that allowed peaceful transition, bolstered by the Independent Electoral Commission’s commitment to open processes.
Data from the Parliamentary Centre in 2023 shows that while legislative support funding stood at $52 million in 2008, it dropped to $15 million in 2022. This retreat comes at a time when parliaments need more training, staff capacity, and digital systems to perform oversight effectively. Analysts from the International Republican Institute argue that donor fatigue could undermine Africa’s democratic progress by starving the very institutions that anchor democracy.
Civic Engagement: The Lifeblood of Democracy
Democracy, in its fullest expression, belongs not to institutions alone but to the people. Civic engagement serves as the oxygen of any living democracy. When citizens participate in governance by voting, protesting, organising, and deliberating, they breathe life into institutions and keep power accountable.
Kenya witnessed this vividly in 2024 when youth-led demonstrations against the Finance Bill, which proposed harsh tax hikes, erupted nationwide. Organised largely through Twitter (now X) and WhatsApp, these digital mobilisations forced President William Ruto’s government to withdraw the bill. According to the Open Government Partnership (OGP), this movement demonstrated a high-functioning civic space capable of influencing economic policy.
In Nigeria, the “Not Too Young To Run” campaign, driven by Yiaga Africa and supported by over 100 civic organisations, led to a constitutional amendment in 2018 that reduced the age requirement for elective offices. Since then, there has been a visible increase in youth candidates and turnout. In the 2023 general elections, over 30% of candidates were under the age of 40, a significant jump from 17% in 2015.
However, civic space is under increasing threat in some countries. In Tanzania, ahead of the 2025 elections, opposition leaders were arrested, rallies banned, and online dissent criminalised. Human Rights Watch and the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition have raised red flags over the shrinking civic space, noting that such repression erodes the people’s trust and weakens democratic institutions from within.
Africa’s democratic destiny will not be written by elections alone. It must be inked through the steady, often quiet, work of building and defending strong institutions. A truly democratic Africa is not only one where people can vote freely, but also where courts can rule justly, parliaments can legislate independently, and citizens can speak without fear.
The cases of judicial assertiveness in Malawi, legislative evolution in Botswana, and powerful civic action in Kenya and Nigeria show that institutional strength is not a pipe dream; it is a reachable standard. But it demands political will, civic courage, and sustained investment. As global attention turns more urgently toward Africa’s political future, strengthening these institutions will be the cornerstone upon which a truly resilient and inclusive democracy can be built.
