Africans in some of the continent’s largest countries show a marked preference for democracy as a form of government over any other type, according to a new global survey of 30 countries by Open Society Foundations (OSF). Their preference also outweighed those of some nations with longer established democratic forms of government. The survey has added significance for Africa watchers given the spate of coups in West and Central Africa over the last couple of years in countries including Gabon, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali. But in many of those countries there has been some public support for the military juntas who overthrew civilian governments. The OSF survey also found that young people (18-35) around the world are increasingly skeptical about democracy, with just 57% deeming it preferable to other types of government.
Source: Open Society Foundations (OSF), Chart and summary by Semafor
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