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A new continental survey has shown that a majority of African youths continue to support democracy, but increasingly prefer a political model that reflects African realities and delivers jobs, services, stability and representation.
The African Youth Survey 2026, released on Tuesday, found that 73 per cent of respondents aged 18 to 24 believe democracy is always preferable to any other form of government, while 64 per cent rejected one-party rule.
However, 56 per cent said Western-style democracy is not suitable for Africa, signaling growing dissatisfaction with imported institutional models that many young people feel have failed to address economic hardship and governance challenges.
The survey was commissioned by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation and conducted by PSB Insights across 16 African countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia and Zambia.
A total of 4,901 face-to-face interviews were conducted in March 2026, making it the largest edition of the recurring survey launched in 2020.
When asked what an African-style democracy should emphasize, respondents ranked national unity and stability highest at 48 per cent, followed by free and fair elections at 46 per cent, leaders who create jobs and provide services at 43 per cent, and community participation at 36 per cent.
The findings suggest that young Africans are not rejecting democratic principles such as elections, free speech and equality before the law, but are demanding systems that feel more legitimate, effective and responsive to local conditions.
The survey also highlighted a sharp generational disconnect.
Seventy-six per cent of respondents said political leaders are out of touch with the needs and aspirations of young people, and the same proportion said there are too few young people in government.
Nearly four in five respondents said they would be more likely to vote for political parties that fielded more young candidates, while 79 per cent supported the creation of a dedicated Minister for Youth.
Sixty-five per cent also supported age limits for presidents and prime ministers, with 57 years identified as the preferred upper limit.
Ivor Ichikowitz, founder and commissioner of the African Youth Survey, said the findings showed that young Africans had not abandoned democracy, but had lost patience with leaders and institutions that failed to deliver economic opportunity, security and accountable governance.
According to him, an African form of democracy is not a rejection of democratic values, but an attempt to make those values meaningful in societies facing high unemployment, rising living costs and persistent governance deficits.
The survey found that respondents were almost evenly divided between prioritizing governments that deliver effectively even if democratic input is limited, at 48 per cent, and governments that strictly uphold democratic procedures even if decision-making is slower, at 47 per cent.
This tension was particularly visible in countries with established democratic traditions.
Youth in South Africa and Ghana were more likely to prioritize effective delivery, while those in Zambia, Mozambique and Chad were more inclined to prioritize democratic process.
Support for democracy was strongest in Zambia at 83 per cent and Kenya at 81 per cent.
Nigeria was among the countries where fewer than half of respondents felt that their voice mattered to national leadership.
The report also revealed what researchers described as an “Afro-optimism paradox.”
Forty-three per cent of respondents said Africa is moving in the right direction, up from 37 per cent in 2024, while 51 per cent said they were optimistic or excited about the future of their own country, a sharp increase from 35 per cent in 2024.
Yet the rising cost of living was identified as the single biggest pressure affecting young Africans over the past five years, and respondents ranked creating well-paying jobs and reducing government corruption as the continent’s most urgent priorities.
The survey further found that 80 per cent of respondents were concerned about the influence of foreign powers on their country, while 80 per cent supported reform of the United Nations Security Council to include permanent African representation.
Researchers said the results pointed to a generation that remains strongly committed to democratic ideals, but is increasingly demanding leadership that can translate those ideals into tangible improvements in daily life.
The African Youth Survey has now covered 28 countries and conducted more than 18,000 interviews since its launch in 2020, making it one of the most extensive studies of youth attitudes on the continent.
(NAN)
Tags: African youths Democry