THE AFRICAN DEMOCRACY CHARTER AT 11: AVERTING DEMOCRATIC DECONSOLIDATION

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs evaluates the progress of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance eleven years after its inception. The author argues that while there are normative commitments to democratic consolidation, many African states remain trapped in an 'electoral fallacy' where regular elections occur but democratic governance is not entrenched across institutions. The document identifies internal and external pressures—including the rise of authoritarian models and the prioritization of counter-terrorism over democratic norms—that contribute to democratic deconsolidation.

• African democratic processes are largely stagnant, with many states stuck in a transitional phase and only a few achieving consolidation. This is characterized as an 'electoral fallacy' where elections are held, but the democratic franchise is not deeply embedded in political and social institutions.
• The African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance has faced challenges in implementation, including a delay in its entry into force until 15 February 2012 and low ratification rates, with only 24 of 39 signatories having ratified the instrument.
• Several factors contribute to the erosion of democracy in Africa, including the rise of election-related violence, the closing of civil society spaces, and the emergence of semi-authoritarian 'strongman' leadership as a perceived guarantor of stability.
• External influences are hindering democratic consolidation. Western actors prioritizing counter-terrorism have reinforced a 'security-first doctrine' that supports less democratic states, while powers like China, Russia, and Turkey provide transactional diplomacy that does not require respect for human rights or free elections.
• The African Union (AU) and certain Regional Economic Communities (RECs) have shown capacity to enforce democratic norms. ECOWAS successfully intervened to restore democracy in The Gambia and Côte d’Ivoire, and the AU has applied Article 30 to suspend members following unconstitutional changes of government in Mali, Egypt, and Burkina Faso.
• Domestic grassroots movements have played a role in pushing for democratisation, such as the 2013 uprisings in Burkina Faso against Blaise Compaoré and the 'Y’en marre' movement in Senegal that opposed the third-term candidacy of Abdoulaye Wade.

APA

Hengari, T. (2018). THE AFRICAN DEMOCRACY CHARTER AT 11: AVERTING DEMOCRATIC DECONSOLIDATION. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Policy-Briefing-172.pdf

Chicago

Hengari, Tjiurimo. THE AFRICAN DEMOCRACY CHARTER AT 11: AVERTING DEMOCRATIC DECONSOLIDATION. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2018. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Policy-Briefing-172.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hengari |first1=Tjiurimo |title=THE AFRICAN DEMOCRACY CHARTER AT 11: AVERTING DEMOCRATIC DECONSOLIDATION |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=May 2018 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Policy-Briefing-172.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hengari2018african, author = {Hengari, Tjiurimo}, title = {{THE AFRICAN DEMOCRACY CHARTER AT 11: AVERTING DEMOCRATIC DECONSOLIDATION}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2018}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Policy-Briefing-172.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }