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Pan-African research network Afrobarometer has released its flagship report for 2025, on the topic of citizen engagement in democratic processes. Titled Citizen engagement, citizen power: Africans claim the promise of democracy, the report highlights the various ways in which citizens in 39 African countries express their needs and preferences while helping to ensure government remains accountable, transparent, and effective.
Citizen engagement refers to the various ways in which democratic governments bring communities – through discussions, voting, protesting, parliamentary interaction, contributing to law-making, and other processes – into political issues that affect them. These issues can relate to national, provincial, and local government.
Whether a campaign stretching across an entire nation or a local neighbourhood initiative, active citizen engagement is vital in ensuring that democratic governance works towards the interests of the people and not those of politicians or the politically connected.
“At its core, democracy relies on people who are willing, able, and empowered to contribute their time, talents, and resources to shaping the civic and political life of their communities and countries,” says Afrobarometer chairperson Amina Oyagbola. “Such acts of engagement, whether quiet or bold, formal or informal, are the lifeblood of any society that seeks to govern itself justly and grow inclusively.”
Getting involved
Afrobarometer surveyed 53 444 respondents in 39 countries to gather the data for this new flagship report. The organisation uses 10 indicators in four categories to gauge levels of citizen engagement:
Electoral participation
- Voted in the last national election.
- Feel close to a political party.
Collective action (in the last year)
- Discuss politics occasionally/frequently.
- Attended a community meeting.
- Joined with others to raise an issue.
Contacting leaders (in the last year)
- Contacted a traditional leader.
- Contacted a local government councillor.
- Contacted a political party official.
- Contacted a member of Parliament.
Activism (in the last year)
- Participated in a protest/demonstration.
Many citizens would be surprised to find they can tick off at least one item on this list, meaning they have participated in a citizen engagement without being aware of it. This shows not that it is not difficult to be an active and engaged citizen and in fact, may be easier than one would realise.
“Our analysis … finds that despite concerns about democratic backsliding and a loss of political freedom, most Africans participate in multiple political and civic activities, demonstrating engagement at levels that compare favourably with other world regions.”
In terms of the 10 indicators, the research shows that on average:
- Nearly three-quarters (72%) voted in their country’s last national election, including nine out of 10 in Liberia (89%), Sierra Leone (90%), and Seychelles (91%). In South Africa this figure is 61%, but it is important to note that data was gathered during the Afrobarometer Round 9 survey of 2022 – so before the 2024 national election. It will presumably be updated in Round 10.
- Four in 10 (41%) out of 38 countries – Eswatini was omitted – “feel close to” a political party. In South Africa this figure is below the average, at 37%.
- More than six in 10 (62%) “occasionally” or “frequently” discuss politics with family or friends. In South Africa, 16% hold frequent discussions on politics, and 41% discuss it less frequently, putting the country significantly below the continental average.
During the previous year:
- Almost half (47%) attended a community meeting at least once, ranging from 11% in Tunisia to 85% in Madagascar. In South Africa, just 9% attend community meetings frequently, 23% attend less frequently, and 17% have attended once or twice. This is above the 39-country average of 15%, 21% and 11% respectively.
- More than four in 10 (42%) joined with others to raise an issue. Eight percent of South Africans do this often, 22% have done it several times, and 14% have done it once or twice.
- More than one-third (37%) contacted a traditional leader, 28% a local government councillor, 15% a member of Parliament , and 20% a political party official. In South Africa these figures are 18%, 39%, 8%, and 18% respectively.
- Nearly one in 10 respondents (9%) participated in a protest or demonstration. South Africans showed their fighting spirit in this indicator, placing joint fourth on the table at 15% (with Cabo Verde).
“National responses for attending a community meeting, joining others to raise an issue, contacting a local government councillor, and participating in a demonstration or protest are higher [in South Africa] than the regional averages,” says Mmabatho Mongae of Good Governance Africa. “This indicates that in South Africa, participation is deeply rooted in movement-based, consultative, and mobilised forms of civic engagement. This trend is rooted in the country’s history of struggle-based activism, where civic engagement was often collective, issue-based, and organised around mobilisation.”
Afrobarometer adds: “Almost everyone gets involved: A mere 6% did not join any of these 10 forms of engagement. And very few stop at voting: 92% engaged in at least one other form of participation, and on average they engaged in 3.6 different forms.”
An impressive 21% reported engaging in five or more modes.
This level of engagement represents an enormous wealth of commitment and skills, the organisation adds, and a potential source of energy that can strengthen government effectiveness and legitimacy if leaders are willing to listen and respond. Of course, therein lies the rub – leaders sometimes show a willingness to listen, but rarely to respond in any practical or useful way.
One form of civic engagement did decline in all countries but one (Morocco) – respondents indicated a clear decline in affiliation with a political party. In South Africa only 32% of respondents aged 18-35 and 41% aged 36 and older felt close to a political party. This is something Corruption Watch recently noted while studying the Human Sciences Research Council’s (HSRC) latest study on Regulating Political Finance in South Africa: Perspectives on the Political Finance Act and Its Implementation.
One of the key findings was an all-time low level of public trust in politicians and political parties, and a consequent widespread uninterest in politics in general. “Trust in political parties and politicians is low, with only 17% and 14% of the adult public, respectively, expressing confidence in them,” said the HSRC. “Political disengagement is also prevalent, as most South Africans (including party members) show little interest in politics.”
Going back to the Afrobarometer report, however, the other side of the coin is that citizens’ contact with local, national, and traditional leaders has increased.
High levels of participation
“Contrary to expectations generated from Western democracies,” says Afrobarometer, “Africans who are poorer and less educated tend to participate more in political and civic activities than their wealthier and more educated counterparts. What’s more, rural residents outperform urbanites when it comes to citizen engagement.”
However, Africa’s women and youth – two of the continent’s largest demographic groups – remain under-represented. “Women continue to engage at substantially lower rates than men across all indicators included in the survey,” says Afrobarometer. “And youth (aged 18-35) are less engaged than older generations on all types of political and civic participation except protest; the disparity is largest for voting, where an 18-percentage-point gap separates youth from their elders.
“But as last year’s massive protests against Kenya’s Finance Bill demonstrate, once motivated, youth engagement can carry impressive weight.”
Almost all Africans are joining in, says Afrobarometer, and while voting is the predominant form of political and civic engagement for the continent’s residents, it is by no means the only form. “Despite the daily challenges of surviving and thriving faced by many Africans, the vast majority are finding multiple opportunities to engage to make their voices heard.”
Civil society’s role
At the time of writing, the Civil Society Forum 2025 was taking place in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on 18 and 19 August. Corruption Watch attended this important annual gathering, which brings together organisations from across Southern Africa to collectively help shape matters such as integration, governance, and sustainable development in the region.
There are various ways to define civil society, but in general the term refers to the diversity of organisations and groups that operate outside of the government and business spheres. From community groups and non-profit organisations to charities and social movements, they are almost without exception dedicated to advancing public interests and societal well-being.
Civil society organisations are often the ones who provide citizens with vital knowledge that enables them to participate in political matters. Such knowledge may include their rights and obligations regarding government processes or political issues, or ways in which they can collaborate to bring about meaningful change in their communities.
