African Pulse
This monthly presents studies on strategic and economic security developments in Africa, which hold particular relevance for India.
In this issue, the authors take a look at institutional democracy in Africa against the backdrop of the January 2026 elections in Uganda. The outcome, widely seen as predetermined, was accompanied by low voter turnout. Opposition parties challenged the credibility of the process, pointing to irregularities in vote counting. Protests followed, leading to violent clashes with security forces, reported deaths, and mass arrests.
The election brings into focus wider debates about the state of democracy in Africa. Yet, democratic trends on the continent are not moving in a single direction. Rather than a uniform retreat, Africa is experiencing divergent political trajectories, with some countries tightening control through legal and digital means, while others continue to strengthen democratic institutions.
Recent examples challenge the narrative of continent-wide democratic decline. In 2024 and 2025, countries such as Botswana and Senegal demonstrated resilience through peaceful transfers of power and respect for judicial independence, underscoring that democratic consolidation remains possible in parts of Africa.
At the same time, Africa is expected to be one of the fastest-growing regions globally in 2026, even as growth remains uneven across countries and sectors. This economic momentum coexists with persistent structural poverty, even as initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area seek to convert resource wealth into shared prosperity by reducing traditional governance constraints.
However, continental ambitions ultimately depend on national governance. The Ugandan experience illustrates how institutional weakness and contested legitimacy can slow or undermine broader development goals, highlighting the importance of effective implementation at the level of states.
Here, democracy is best seen as a practical necessity, not an abstract ideal. For Africa’s young societies, the ballot box remains a key to curbing elite capture and renewing legitimacy. The challenge is not importing models, but building democratic practices that reflect African realities. How Africa defines and practises democracy, on its own terms, will be central to turning its vast economic potential into inclusive and lasting growth.
To read this issue please click African Pulse, Vol. II, Issue 1.
