Political Perspectives of Young People in West Africa

The political attitudes of youth in West Africa have recently sparked significant discussions, especially regarding their support for democracy and their openness to non-democratic alternatives. Drawing from the Afrobarometer survey’s Round 9 (2021-2023) in West Africa, which covered 14 countries (including Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal), the data reveals a complex picture of how young people in the region view democracy and its future.

A report on political attitudes across 30 countries, including five African nations (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa), highlighted some concerning trends among the youth. The findings indicated that those aged 18-35 showed less enthusiasm for democracy compared to older age groups. Only 57 percent of the youth in this age range preferred democracy to other forms of government, while 71 percent of individuals aged 56 and above favored democracy. Additionally, the youth cohort expressed higher support for military rule (42 percent) compared to older groups, with 33 percent of those aged 36-55 and 20 percent of those 56 and above showing similar support.

These sentiments raise critical questions: Are the political attitudes of youth in Africa reflecting these trends? And if so, should democracy and good governance advocates be concerned about the future of democracy in the region?

To delve deeper into this issue, we can examine the Afrobarometer survey’s data from West Africa. Despite variations across countries, the survey provides insights into the collective attitudes of youth towards democracy and governance in the region.

Faith in Democracy and Elections

When asked about their support for democracy, the youth in West Africa (aged 18-35) showed a preference for democracy, though slightly lower (68 percent) compared to the 36-45 (70 percent) and 46-55 (70 percent) age groups. However, the 56 and above age group demonstrated the highest level of support for democracy, at 74 percent. This data indicates that while the youth’s support for democracy is strong, it is notably lower than that of older age groups.

Regarding elections, which are fundamental to democratic systems, the youth exhibited strong support (77 percent) for regular competitive elections as the preferred method of choosing leaders. Support for elections was also high among older groups: 80 percent of those aged 36-45, 81 percent of those aged 46-55, and 80 percent of those aged 56 and above.

Dissatisfaction with Democracy

Despite the youth’s preference for democracy, a significant proportion expressed dissatisfaction with how democracy functions. Among the youth, 69 percent reported being dissatisfied with the way democracy works, compared to 59 percent of those aged 36-45, 46-55, and 56+. This suggests that while the youth support democracy in principle, there is widespread frustration with its execution, especially with governance practices.

Appeal of Non-Democratic Alternatives

The survey also explored the appeal of non-democratic alternatives, including one-party rule, one-man rule, and military rule. The youth showed a similar level of support for one-party and one-man rule as older groups, with 14 percent and 15 percent, respectively. However, military rule garnered more support among the youth (37 percent), which was slightly higher than the 36-45 age group (37 percent), but noticeably higher than the 46-55 (34 percent) and 56+ age groups (32 percent).

This data indicates that military rule holds a greater appeal among the youth than other non-democratic alternatives. This sentiment could be influenced by the perception that military rule might offer more stability or a solution to the dissatisfaction with current democratic practices.

Democratic Optimism

When asked to look ahead five years and assess the prospects for democracy in the region, the youth were notably less optimistic. Only 23 percent believed the region would be much more democratic, while 17 percent thought it would become somewhat more democratic. The largest proportion (34 percent) thought it would remain about the same. The fact that 13 percent believed the region would become much less democratic is a concerning sign of waning hope among the youth for the future of democracy in the region.

A Bleak Future for Democracy?

Recent events in West Africa, such as the successful military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and Niger, have further fueled concerns about the future of democracy in the region. While support for democracy remains strong among the youth (68 percent), the high levels of dissatisfaction and low optimism are worrying trends.

As former Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia pointed out, the youth can be seen as either “enablers of democratic sustenance or as outlets for misgovernance.” The future of democracy in West Africa depends largely on how the youth are engaged, their concerns addressed, and whether democratic institutions are strengthened to meet their expectations.

In conclusion, while the youth in West Africa still support democracy, their dissatisfaction with how democracy functions and their openness to non-democratic alternatives, particularly military rule, present significant challenges. Democracy advocates should be cautious and proactive in addressing the root causes of this dissatisfaction to ensure the region’s democratic future is secure.