Across Africa, a renewed slide into electoral authoritarianism is steadily eroding the democratic gains made during the post–Cold War era. While elections continue to take place, many are increasingly manipulated to entrench incumbents in power. This trend is weakening democratic institutions, undermining accountability, and posing serious risks to long-term economic growth and political stability across the continent.
Leaders accused of practising electoral authoritarianism often amend constitutions, suppress opposition parties, restrict media freedoms, and weaponise state institutions to prolong their rule. Security threats and economic hardship are frequently used to justify these actions, with governments claiming that repression is necessary to maintain stability. Critics, however, warn that such short-term control comes at a significant cost.
The Executive Director of the Democracy Development Programme (DDP) and honorary senior research lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Paul Kariuki, said the core problem lies in political leadership’s disregard for constitutionalism and the rule of law.
“The inertia with our current crop of political leadership on the continent is that there is very little appetite to respect the constitutions of their countries and to uphold the rule of law,” Kariuki said. He explained that electoral authoritarianism allows incumbents to “entrench their stay in power” by forcing society to align with their political agendas.
According to Kariuki, this approach fuels instability rather than preventing it. “It creates tensions within countries, erodes public trust in government and institutions, and, more importantly, pushes countries backwards from the democratic paths they were previously on,” he noted.
He added that repression has become a defining feature of this trend. “If it means repressing people, killing them, intimidating them, or shutting down the internet so people cannot engage, it creates the perception that there is no respect for the constitution of the country, and, of course, no respect for the people they intend to lead.”
Beyond governance concerns, the economic consequences are severe. Weak accountability and entrenched corruption discourage investment, stifle innovation, and deepen inequality. While some authoritarian governments claim to deliver stability and development, evidence suggests that sustainable growth is far more likely under transparent and accountable democratic systems.
Kariuki warned that Africa’s democratic regression is especially troubling given the continent’s vast potential. “We are seeing international countries scrambling for every opportunity on our continent to better their lot, except African people themselves,” he said.
As electoral authoritarianism spreads, analysts argue that reversing this trend is essential not only for democracy, but also for Africa’s economic future and social cohesion.
Listen to the full interview below:
VOC News
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