The 1990s began with an unprecedented democratic opening in Francophone Africa. While a number of countries have suffered setbacks and even reversals, others continue to make progress, and popular aspirations for democracy remain strong.
About the Author
Christopher Fomunyoh is senior associate for Africa and special advisor to the president at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that works to support and strengthen freedom and democracy worldwide.
Survey data indicate that Africans support democracy and its formal institutions, but also point to the importance of the informal realm, particularly when formal institutions fail to meet popular expectations.
The decision by Uganda’s leaders to abandon the country’s “movement” system and adopt multiparty pluralism creates a significant opportunity for democratic progress.
