We need to demonstrate true commitment to values and ideals underpinning democracy, including diversity and inclusive participation, justice and fairness, freedom of expression, independence of the judiciary, and press freedom. We need to protect those who hold power to account, including the media and other civil society organisations. We need to empower more media groups to provide accurate, non-partisan information.
In the past year, two major African regional economic hubs, Kenya and Nigeria, have conducted highly scrutinised elections. Nigeria only recently inaugurated Bola Ahmed Tinubu after a hotly contested electoral process in March. Kenya’s William Samoei Ruto has served for almost a year now. As these administrations settle into leadership, I laud the various successes in their electoral processes: we saw more young people come out in the polls in Nigeria, and more women elected in Kenya.
However, I’m concerned about the polarising narratives which…