Democracy in Africa: Coups, crises and foregone conclusions
Key takeaways
- As Ethiopia formally counts the votes following Monday's election, attitudes toward democracy appear to be shifting across Africa.
- Though results have yet to be announced, Monday's election in Ethiopia, for example, is widely expected to result in a win for incumbent Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, despite deep divisions in the nation.
- In West Africa, Ibrahim Traore, who seized power in the 2022 coup in Burkina Faso, told the Burkinabe people in April to "forget" about democracy.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
As Ethiopia formally counts the votes following Monday's election, attitudes toward democracy appear to be shifting across Africa. In April, Burkina Faso's junta leader told the Burkinabe people to "forget" democracy.
https://p.dw.com/p/5ESg2Elections shape leadership, policy priorities and democratic credibility across Africa Image: Olympia De Maismont/AFPAdvertisement Many of the 2026 elections across Africa across Africa are marked by fraud, repression and a growing disconnect between young people and political elites.
Though results have yet to be announced, Monday's election in Ethiopia, for example, is widely expected to result in a win for incumbent Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, despite deep divisions in the nation. Officials cited security concerns in suspending voting in parts of the country; the entire Tigray region was excluded from the election as tensions continue between regional and federal authorities. Tigray has not had federal representation for six years, and regional fighters fought a bloody civil war with federal forces from 2020 to 2022.