At a time when democratic values are under intense pressure across Africa, renowned Senegalese journalist and former TV5 Monde Africa editor Ousmane Ndiaye has released a provocative new book, “Africa Against Democracy: Myths, Denial, Dangers.” Published in French on July 10, the work dives deep into the growing disillusionment with democracy on the continent and offers a compelling case that democracy is not only universal but inherently African.
Ndiaye’s book comes amidst a troubling wave of anti-democratic developments. Since 2020, Africa has witnessed nine successful military coups, primarily in West Africa’s so-called “Sahelian coup belt.” These include countries like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, where transitional military rulers are steadily entrenching their hold on power.
Earlier this month, Mali’s Assimi Goita who first came to power through a military coup signed legislation extending his rule until at least 2030 without holding elections. His counterparts in Niger and Burkina Faso, also former coup leaders, are following similar trajectories.
But Ndiaye warns that the threat to democracy does not lie solely in military fatigues.
“It’s not just the khaki danger,” he writes. “It’s also the presidents who were democratically elected and later begin to dismantle democratic institutions using populist or security arguments.”
He cites Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed as a prime example: “He came to power through the ballot, but his discourse and actions increasingly cast doubt on the very democratic process that brought him there.”
Debunking the Myth of Imported Democracy
In a bold move, Ndiaye takes aim at a deeply ingrained belief: that democracy is a foreign, Western concept imposed on African societies. Instead, he argues that African communities historically practiced egalitarian governance well before colonization disrupted indigenous political systems.
“In many parts of Africa, democratic principles existed long before colonial rule,” Ndiaye says. “Colonialism didn’t introduce democracy it destroyed it.”
The author critiques the post-colonial democratization process as one shaped by external agendas, often led by donor-driven reforms and top-down political blueprints. He terms this process “democratic evangelisation,” arguing that such approaches have failed to take root because they ignored local realities.
“What we’ve experienced are democratization processes from above or from abroad. These are artificial and unsustainable.”
A Fight Worth Fighting
Despite the gloomy picture painted by recent events including the rise of authoritarian rhetoric, propaganda, and repression Ndiaye’s outlook remains cautiously hopeful. His book doesn’t just critique; it also calls for renewal.
According to Ndiaye, the true antidote to Africa’s democratic backsliding lies in grassroots citizen movements. These, he believes, are fueled by a deep, authentic desire for freedom, justice, and equality values that are both universal and indigenous.
“Democracy must be reclaimed from within. It must be remade by the people for the people, not imposed by elites or foreign interests.”
Ndiaye’s work resonates with many in a generation disillusioned with politics-as-usual but unwilling to surrender the dream of a freer, more just Africa.
A Wake-Up Call to the Continent
As the continent wrestles with complex questions of governance, security, and identity, Ndiaye’s Africa Against Democracy arrives as both a warning and a roadmap. It challenges readers especially African policymakers, intellectuals, and youth to rethink the future of democracy not as an imported ideal, but as a birthright worth defending.
Whether it’s resisting military authoritarianism, exposing populist deceit, or reclaiming traditional democratic values lost to colonial disruption, Ndiaye’s message is clear:
“Democracy is not a gift, it is a struggle and in Africa, it must be our struggle, shaped by our voices, our histories, and our hopes.”
Embracing the Future
As Ndiaye embarks on a pan-African tour to promote the book, conversations around democracy’s future in Africa are likely to intensify. His bold challenge to conventional thinking comes at a pivotal moment, as citizens across the continent weigh the cost of silence against the power of civic engagement.
The book may not have all the answers, but it asks the right questions, questions that Africa can no longer afford to ignore.
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