Picture: Lara Jameson via Pexels
Africa’s political landscape in 2025 was anything but calm. From violent clashes in Tanzania to youth-led uprisings in Madagascar, the continent faced a year of turbulence that tested democratic resilience.
Tanzania’s October election shocked observers when police opened fire on demonstrators protesting alleged vote-rigging. President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s landslide victory, with 98% of ballots, drew condemnation from regional bodies and raised fears that democratic progress had been reversed (BBC) (bbc.com in Bing).
Elsewhere, coups continued to reshape governance. Guinea-Bissau joined Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso in military rule, while Madagascar’s Gen Z protests forced President Andry Rajoelina from office, ushering in an interim military leader (Reuters). Analysts warn that these shifts highlight a widening gap between citizens and those in power.
Not all developments were negative. Malawi witnessed a peaceful transfer of power as Peter Mutharika returned to the presidency, while Seychelles saw United Seychelles reclaim office. South Africa’s ANC entered coalition government after losing its majority, and Senegal avoided constitutional manipulation through street protests and judicial checks (Al Jazeera).
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s latest governance index suggests progress has stalled, with coups, contested elections and rising costs of living fuelling discontent.
With Africa’s youthful population demanding accountability, the challenge for 2026 is clear: governments must listen, reform and deliver, or risk deeper instability.
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