Coups, elections and protests - a difficult year for democracy in Africa

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 6 min read 100% complete December 30, 2025 at 01:39 AM

AI Summary

long article 6 min

In 2025, democracy in Africa faced significant challenges, marked by contested elections, protests, and military coups. Tanzania's election, marred by violence and opposition suppression, exemplified a broader trend of strained relations between governments and citizens. Across the continent, rising living costs fueled widespread dissatisfaction. While governance progress has stalled since 2022, some positive developments occurred, including peaceful transfers of power in Malawi and Seychelles. However, analysts warn that these negative patterns could reverse decades of democratic gains if left unchecked. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation's report highlights a concerning trend of declining governance across the continent.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Seychelles 40% United Seychelles 40% Malawi ×260% Mo Ibrahim ×260% Peter Mutharika ×260% Samia Suluhu Hassan 70% Tanzania ×380% Africa ×290%

Keywords

africa 100% democracy 100% elections 80% governance 70% coups 70% political instability 60% protests 60% election disputes 50% military governments 50% tanzania 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.40

Source Transparency

Source

BBC News - World

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Africa

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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africa democracy elections governance coups political instability protests election disputes military governments tanzania

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