June 19, 2025

The SSRC’s APN and Next Gen program-sponsored panel, “Defending Democracy in Africa: Challenges and Options,” which was held virtually as part of the 2025 Lagos Studies Association (LSA) Conference, featured five paper presentations.

The first paper presentation by Hakeem Onapajo, panel Chair, titled “Weak Institutions and Democratic Backsliding in Africa: A Study of the ‘Third Wave of Military Coups’ in West Africa,” explored the recent coups in West Africa, noting that they had largely been approached from external and geopolitical perspectives. Drawing on an institutional approach, the presenter argued that institutional weaknesses, or the dysfunctional nature of state institutions, fueled instability and enabled coup makers who exploited democratic deficits to seize control of state power. The paper concluded by advocating for the strengthening of political institutions to forestall a complete breakdown of democracy in Africa.

The second paper presentation by Silidile Mlilo, titled “Democratic Governance and Election Transitions in Botswana: A Case Study of the 2024 Elections and Its Implications for Africa’s Democracy,” focused on recent developments in Botswana’s democratic experience following the peaceful rejection of the long-time dominant Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) by voters. The paper argued that long-term, bottled-up grievances of Botswanan citizens over corruption, unemployment, and human right violations of successive BDP governments played a significant role in the defeat of the party in the 2024 elections. In contrast to other African states, the outcome of Botswana’s recent elections signified democratic consolidation and the functionality of democratic institutions.

The third paper presentation by Leke Idowu, titled “Defending Democracy through Digital Activism: Challenges and Options for African Youths,” captured the significance of digital activism in the new age of democracy on the continent. He showed how digital activism shaped youth activism and civil society engagement in democratic struggles in Africa. It was also observed that digital activism in Africa was being challenged by digital repression, authoritarianism, and the hijacking of digital spaces by certain forces, as well as general political apathy. The presenter concluded by noting that African youths must continue to utilize digital activism to move away from the triggers and root causes of crises, while also calling on youth activists to monitor modest gains by not getting carried away with the hype that comes with digital activism.

The fourth paper presentation by Alhassan Issah Suhuniyi, titled “Alienation and Conflicts Among Agro-Pastoralist Communities in Ghana: Implications for Livelihoods and Peaceful Co-Existence,” examined farmer-herders conflict as a phenomenon within the context of African democracies, based on a case study of Ghana. He argued that one of the overlooked factors driving such conflicts was the exclusion of the herders from the democratic system. It was argued that pastoralists were denied freedom of expression, movement, and voting rights at both local and national levels. He therefore advocated for the inclusion of pastoralists in democratic processes as a strategy for promoting peaceful coexistence, preventing and resolving conflicts in Africa.

The fifth and final presentation by Linnet Hamasi, titled “Civil Society and the Protection of the Democratic Space in Africa: A Retrospective View from Kenya,” explored the significance of civil society in the development of democracy in Africa, with an emphasis on Kenya. Taking a historical approach, the presenter argued that civil society had significantly shaped the trajectory of democracy in Kenya. This point is further illustrated by drawing on the case of current wave of protests by the “Gen Z” movement in Kenya, in the context of struggling for the “third liberation” of Kenya. However, the paper noted that this struggle faces serious changes, such as the politicization of the religious space, infiltration of the civil society by political elites, and a high-handed state response against protesters. The presenter advocated for the empowerment of civil society to advance democratic development in Africa.

The discussion that followed acknowledged that political elites in Africa were undermining democratic institutions and processes on the continent, by fueling poor governance, violent conflict, and instability. It was observed that African societies were vulnerable to military coups and other forms of political disruptions. To reverse this trend, it was agreed that democratic institutions in Africa would need to be strengthened, alongside youth and civil society, to enable them to work towards consolidating democracy in Africa.