When African leaders adopted Agenda 2063 in 2013, the promise was bold: a continent defined by good governance, democracy, human rights and the rule of law within a generation. A decade later, new evidence suggests that while Africans continue to believe in democracy, their practical experiences tell a more complicated story, one that transcends constitutions and election cycles into homes, markets, classrooms, SMEs, ventures, community halls, etc.
A recent study examining Africa’s democratic trajectory through the lens of Agenda 2063 paints a sobering picture. Drawing on Afrobarometer public opinion surveys, expert assessments from the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) project, and the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, the research finds a growing gap between the demand for democracy and its actual supply. In simple terms, Africans want democracy, but many feel they are not getting it. Therefore, democracy is on the kitchen table, presumably.
Democracy is not an abstract ideal for families across the continent. It shows up in different scenarios like, whether parents/adults trust that their votes matter; whether young people feel heard by local authorities; and whether communities believe the law applies equally to everyone. Afrobarometer data reveal that trust in electoral commissions and confidence in free and fair elections have declined over the past decade. Only about four in ten citizens now believe elections truly reflect the will of the people.
This erosion of trust sustains real human consequences. When elections are seen as unfair, political disputes often spill into the streets, disrupting schooling, livelihoods, businesses, sociocultural/family life. In fragile economies, post-election instability can wipe out years of small business progress overnight, pushing households back into poverty.
Culturally, Africa’s democratic story is deeply shaped by history. Colonial borders, ethnic divisions, social/peer pressures and the politicization of religion, continue to influence how power is contested and exercised. In many countries, politics still follow ethnic or regional lines, weakening national unity and democratic accountability. Traditional authorities and informal networks often fill gaps left by weak institutions; sometimes stabilizing communities, but at other times reinforcing exclusion.
The study finds that citizen participation, especially at local levels, has increased in some areas, reflecting a strong grassroots appetite for engagement. Civil society organizations remain active, yet the space for them to operate freely is shrinking in many countries. Restrictions on protests, media and associations, limit how citizens can organize and express dissent, narrowing democracy’s cultural and social foundations. Many of these instances also feature on the negative cost-implication of business, caused by weak governance.
In consideration of the presumptuous analysis of some entrepreneurs and investors, it is seen by them that democracy is closely linked to predictability and fairness. The reflective-predictions are, weak checks/balances, limited judicial independence/unequal treatment, manipulative post-election judicial process, etc.; and assuming the law would always create risky business environments, postelection. It is also noted that separation of powers across Africa has declined over the past decade, concentrating authority in the executive branch, according to the statistics.
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