How can we hold the powerful to account in Africa when the ruling party acts with impunity and disregards the will of the voters? Living Rights Festival

Abstract

Many countries call themselves democracies simply because they hold regular elections. At a panel discussion in October
2024 as part of IFAA’s Living Rights Festival, participants were reminded that elections are a necessary but not sufficient requirement for democracy. A key question that surfaced in the debate, titled “Holding the Powerful to Account in  Africa,” was what actions could promote accountability in a so-called “democracy” in which the ruling party is able to act with impunity and disregard the will of the voters?