The democratic scene in West Africa has seen notable changes in recent years as nations show different degrees of democratic resilience and as well as democratic backslidings. The Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) 2024 Democracy Index and the Freedom in the World 2024 report of Freedom House classified West African countries into several categories, therefore underscoring a general trend of declining democratic liberties. While some countries—like Cabo Verde and Ghana—have very solid democratic institutions, many countries are faced with growing governance problems, election anomalies, and limited human freedoms under rising constraint. Significant challenges to political stability and the rule of law arise from political repression, executive overreach, corruption, and weak institutions still impeding democratic development.
Comparative study of important West African countries suggests a concerning trend of democratic backsliding, especially in nations like Guinea, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Togo and Niger, which have suffered political liberties. Though classed as a flawed democracy, Cabo Verde is the most democratic country in West Africa. Ghana also maintains a somewhat steady multi-party system and like Cabo Verde, has a flawed democracy according to the Economist Intelligence Unit Democracy Index Report 2024. Liberia and Sierra Leone, on the other hand, continue to be hybrid governments battling corruption and poor leadership. Though it conducts frequent elections, Nigeria has ingrained problems like political violence and electoral manipulation. Once seen as shining examples of democratic development, nations like Senegal have since been subject to growing limitations on press freedom and political opposition. Authoritarianism has therefore been ingrained in nations like Guinea, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Togo, Niger, and Burkina Faso where military control, executive domination, and repression of alternative voices have further undermined democratic values.
With majority of the nations classified as hybrid governments or authoritarian states, the results of the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index 2024 and Freedom House's Freedom in the World 2024 show a general trend of democratic regression in West Africa. Though some encouraging changes in nations like Cabo Verde and Ghana, the larger regional picture is alarming as political unrest, corruption, and ineffective governments still threaten democratic growth.
- Quote paper
- Julius T. Jaesen (Author), 2024, Democracy in Peril. West Africa’s Struggle for Political Stability, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1569262
