World · Africa · 1 day ago
Afrobarometer chief says young Africans want rights and accountability
Afrobarometer director Joseph Asunka says young Africans are frustrated as economic progress has not brought the opportunities many hoped for.
The survey organization has tracked views across the continent for 25 years.
Economic gains have come alongside shrinking civic freedoms, including limits on people’s ability to speak, organize and hold leaders to account.
The share of young people who prefer democracy fell from 80% to 60% over the past decade, according to Asunka.
He says flawed elections can make it hard for voters to replace leaders, weakening faith in voting as a way to bring change.
More people want to leave, increasingly for Europe or North America, as economic growth driven by technology and infrastructure has not necessarily created jobs and opportunities for them.
Asunka also says Africans are disillusioned with former colonial powers and view China positively.
Afrobarometer director Joseph Asunka says young Africans want fundamental rights, equality and leaders who are accountable.
He says democratic governance has deteriorated, with freedoms and election quality declining.
The share of young people who prefer democracy to other systems fell from 80% to 60% over the past 10 years, he said.
Asunka says more people want to migrate, as economic progress has not necessarily created opportunities for them.
- Who
- Joseph Asunka, director of Afrobarometer, discussed young Africans’ views.
- What
- He said young Africans want rights, equality and accountable leaders as freedoms and democratic governance decline.
- When
- He spoke at a conference in Cairo the previous weekend; the article was published on November 7, 2026.
- Where
- Cairo, Egypt.
- Why
- Asunka said governance has deteriorated and economic progress has not necessarily created opportunities for people.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Afrobarometer has tracked public views across the continent.
The share of young people who prefer democracy to other systems fell from 80% to 60%, Asunka said.
The proportion of people who want to leave has grown, Asunka said.
Asunka spoke at a conference of African experts in Cairo.
- Afrobarometer director
- Joseph Asunka
- Democracy preference among young people
- Fell from 80% to 60% over 10 years
- Afrobarometer’s tracking period
- 25 years
- Conference location
- Cairo, Egypt
- Migration trend
- The proportion wanting to leave has grown over the past five years
What people are saying
Africans want leaders who submit to accountability.
People increasingly prefer a government that is accountable, even if it is not entirely efficient.
This is the kind of issue that most Africans yearn for.