Protests Signal Growing Demand for Accountability Over Coups in Africa

Recent protests across Africa highlight a critical shift: citizens are increasingly demanding accountability from their leaders instead of relying on coups to address governmental failures. Despite decades of democratic governance, many African nations have yet to experience the full benefits of democracy, with accountability largely absent from the political landscape.
In countries like Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Eritrea, and Uganda, leaders have manipulated their constitutions to extend their tenure, making it nearly impossible to remove them through legitimate means, regardless of their performance in office.
For most African citizens, the next election is often the only opportunity to hold their leaders accountable. However, the integrity of these elections is frequently compromised, with electoral processes rigged to ensure victory for the incumbent, rather than truly reflecting the will of the people.