By Ebi Kesiena
New survey released by Afrobarometer a survey research network has revealed that Africans support democratic elections as the preferred way to choose their leaders, but a majority do not trust electoral management bodies to deliver free and fair polls.
The findings were contained in a statement released on Monday by Afrobarometer, following its latest round of surveys conducted across the continent.
The report, based on 50,961 face-to-face interviews carried out in 38 African countries during 2024 and 2025, shows that while public participation in elections remains high, confidence in electoral integrity has weakened over the past decade.
On average, about 74 percent of Africans support choosing leaders through regular, open and honest elections, a majority position in every country surveyed. However, only 38 percent of respondents said they trust their country’s electoral management body “somewhat” or “a lot,” highlighting a deep credibility gap in institutions charged with safeguarding democracy.
The survey also found that seven in 10 Africans, 71 percent reported voting in their most recent national election, with participation highest among older citizens, rural residents, men, and those without formal education.
While 55 percent of respondents described their most recent election as largely free and fair, more than a third disagreed. Across 28 countries surveyed consistently since 2014/2015, perceptions of free and fair elections have dropped by seven percentage points, indicating a steady erosion of public confidence.
Despite this, most Africans said they felt free to participate politically, with 77 percent saying they could join political organisations of their choice and 86 percent reporting they could vote without feeling pressured. Still, substantial minorities expressed fear of violence or intimidation during election campaigns and doubted whether their ballots were truly secret.
The report further revealed widespread frustration with political leadership. Although 77 percent of citizens believe elected officials should follow voters’ demands, only 17 percent said their members of parliament often or always listen to ordinary people.
Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan research network that conducts public attitude surveys on democracy, governance and quality of life. Since 1999, it has completed 10 survey rounds in up to 45 African countries, with the current Round 10 covering 38 nations across the continent.
