2016 Youth participation in elections in Africa An eight-country study FOREWORD The demographics of the African continent demonstrate clearly that the future of the continent will fundamentally depend on how young people are treated and what role, in the different facets of African life, they in turn choose to be involved. Different claims are made on the role that youth already play or do not play, but these claims are more often than not based on very scant if any information at all. Given how important it is to develop appropriate strategies for integrating the youth into current and future plans, it is imperative that the planning process be based on facts on the ground as opposed to being based on untested speculation about young people. On that basis, the Mandela Institute for Development Studies (MINDS), a pan African think tank, has commissioned this research to contribute to the body of knowledge about the current plight and attitudes of young people on the continent. This body of knowledge, we hope, will not only inform the formulation of appropriate strategies by current administrations, but will also help young people themselves figure out how to more proactively take on the role of agent in laying the path to creating a future that will serve their interests. At MINDS we hold a view that young people should be challenged to take advantage of their numbers and make both their current and future needs better known and taken into account in how things are done. This should include in particular, how they use their numbers to influence who is elected to lead their countries. Unsurprisingly, the research finds that young people are very frustrated with how the African continent is performing. Frustrated by lack of economic opportunities, young people have lost faith in political structures and processes. They have also lost faith in electoral processes in particular. Needless to say this last element could spell disaster as it implies that young people might, in their frustration, seek other ways of attempting to get the system to respond to their needs. If elections have lost their bite in so far as the youth do not believe that a non-performing government can be removed through the electoral process, it would follow that the superiority of their numbers cannot serve them through this channel. In some ways, this is what we have witnessed in South Africa with respect to the very disruptive and destructive behavior of students in the #feesmustfall movement. What should be clear to young people is that this kind of knowledge can be used to either facilitate for their productive participation in creating a more equitable and inclusive future, or to frustrate and exclude them. Knowledge is a neutral asset. The user’s agenda determines the end to which objective information or knowledge is employed. We hope there will be more parties that mean well and, therefore, choose to put this information to good use for the benefit of both society at large and the African youth in particular. Nkosana Moyo (Dr) Founder and Executive Chair Mandela Institute for Development Studies 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research study was conducted in 2016 by the Institute of Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) on behalf of the Mandela Institute for Development Studies (MINDS). MINDS wishes to thanks the IJR, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in South Africa, MINDS alumni, experts and all other parties that contributed towards the study. MINDS acknowledges the following individuals for their participation: TUNISIA Professor Alcinda Honwana, Visiting Professor in International Development at the Open University, and author of The Time of Youth: Work, Politics, and Social Change in Africa (Kumarian Press, 2012) and Youth and Revolution in Tunisia (Zed Books, 2013). Ms. Asma Abidi, MINDS Alumni and Journalist Ms. Imen Zaouem, MINDS Alumni, English Teacher and Masters Student EGYPT Professor Ziad Akl, Senior Researcher, Egyptian Studies Unit, Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, and part-time Professor at the American University in Cairo Mr. Mahmoud Salah, MINDS Alumni and Delegate at the International Committee of the Red Cross KENYA Mr. Omore C. Osendo, Governance Adviser, DFID Kenya Mr. John Omwamba, MINDS Alumni, Regional and Metropolitan Planning Officer at UN-Habitat, Environmental Planner and Youth Activist Ms. Nelly Kasina, MINDS Alumni and Youth Volunteer Mr. Samuel Karuita, MINDS Alumni and Executive Director at Peace Ambassadors Integration Organisation TANZANIA Mr. Stephen Mwombela, Researcher, REPOA Policy Research for Development Mr. Abdunuur Mwimi, MINDS Alumni and Founder of the Way Forward Foundation NIGERIA Ms. Safiya Bichi, Senior Research Officer at the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) Mr. Abiodun Ajijola, MINDS Alumni, Consultant and former National Coordinator, Election Monitor Ms. Ify Ogo, MINDS Alumni and Doctoral Candidate BURKINA FASO Professor Augustin Loada, Professor, University of Ouagadougou and Director, Centre for Democratic Governance Mr. Boubakar Yougbare, MINDS Alumni, Partnerships Consultant, and former AU Youth Volunteer at the African Union Commission Ms. Chantal Naré, MINDS Alumni and Youth Activist ZAMBIA Mr. Mulima Nyambe Mubanga, National Investigator for Afrobarometer and Lead Consultant for Rural Business Development at RuralNet Associates Ltd Ms. Mweshi Ng’andu, MINDS Alumni, Event Consultant and Youth Activist Ms. Eness Mayondi, MINDS Alumni and Youth Activist MALAWI Mr. Jimmy Kainja, Blogger and Lecturer, at the University of Malawi Ms. Walhalha Saukila, MINDS Alumni and Lawyer Ms. Jessie Kalepa, MINDS Alumni and Political Scientist 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5 Burkina Faso 52 7.1 National political context .............................................52 Youth sample and country comparisons 5 7.2 Civic engagement .........................................................53 7.3 Political engagement ....................................................54 ACRONYMS 8 7.4 Influences on youth participation ................................55 7.5 Encouraging future participation .................................56 Introduction 10 7.6 Key findings ...................................................................56 1.1 Purpose of the study .....................................................10 Nigeria 58 1.2 Selection of countries ...................................................10 8.1 National political context .............................................58 1.3 Methodology .................................................................10 8.2 Civic engagement .........................................................59 1.4 MINDS definition of youth ............................................ 11 8.3 Political engagement ...................................................60 1.5 Measuring youth voter turnout ................................... 11 8.4 Influences on youth participation ................................62 1.6 Key measures of participation ...................................... 11 8.5 Encouraging future participation .................................63 1.7 Report structure ............................................................. 11 8.6 Key findings ...................................................................64 Youth sample and country comparison 13 Zambia 66 2.1 Youth population ...........................................................13 9.1 National political context .............................................66 2.2 Afrobarometer youth sub-sample ...............................13 9.2 Civic engagement .........................................................67 2.3 Youth quality of life .......................................................14 9.3 Political engagement ....................................................68 2.4 Youth political and civic engagement .........................17 9.4 Influences on youth participation ................................70 2.5 Key factors influencing youth participation ................21 9.5 Encouraging future participation .................................71 Tunisia 23 9.6 Key findings ...................................................................72 3.1 National political context .............................................23 Malawi 74 3.2 Civic engagement .........................................................24 10.1 National political context .............................................74 3.3 Political engagement ....................................................25 10.2 Civic engagement .........................................................74 3.4 Influences on youth participation ................................28 10.3 Political engagement ....................................................76 3.5 Encouraging future participation .................................28 10.4 Influences on youth participation ................................79 3.6 Key findings ..................................................................29 10.5 Encouraging future participation .................................80 Egypt 31 10.6 Key findings ..................................................................80 4.1 National political context .............................................31 Key findings and strategies to 4.2 Civic engagement .........................................................32 4.3 Political engagement ....................................................33 increase participation 82 4.4 Influences on youth participation ................................35 11.1 Key findings ...................................................................82