"Afrobarometer public-attitude surveys have been tracking citizen engagement on the continent for 25 years. This report, the second in an annual series on high-priority topics, draws on data spanning the past decade, including the latest round of nationally representative surveys in 39 countries, representing the views of more than three-fourths of the continent’s population. The analysis focuses on key indicators of citizen engagement: voting, political party affiliation, political discussion, attending community meetings, joining with others to raise an issue, contacting leaders, and protesting. We look at current levels of engagement, trends over the past decade, demographic patterns of engagement, and key factors that drive citizens to make their voices heard.
We find that most Africans participate in multiple political and civic activities, demonstrating engagement at levels that compare favourably with other world regions. Contrary to theories and findings from the Global North, in Africa it appears that need fosters participation, rather than disengagement: The least-wealthy citizens, and the least-wealthy countries, report higher rates of engagement than their better-off counterparts. Importantly, we also find that more democracy, especially in the form of high-quality elections and responsive leadership, appears to foster more participation. This positive feedback has critical implications for strengthening citizen engagement – and with it, the effectiveness of political systems and the quality of governance – across the continent." (Executive summary)