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, who holds an LL.M. from Harvard Law School and a Ph.D. in political science from Boston University, is senior associate for Africa at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) and adjunct professor of African politics and government at Georgetown University.
The ruling EPRDF and its allies won every single seat in parliament in Ethiopia’s May 2015 elections, signaling a hardening of the regime’s authoritarian rule.
Data from Africa show that repeated elections, regardless of their relative freeness or fairness,appear to have a positive impact on the growth of civil liberties and democratic values.
