The HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies hosted the webinar Rethinking Elections and Democratic Practice in Eastern Africa: Crisis, Adaptation, and the Future of Political Participation, which examined the evolving state of electoral democracy across Eastern Africa amid growing concerns over competitiveness, inclusivity, and democratic legitimacy. The discussion was situated within a broader context of recent and upcoming electoral cycles in the region and increasing scrutiny of whether elections continue to function as effective mechanisms of political representation and accountability.
Key findings highlighted a growing trend across parts of Eastern Africa where elections are increasingly viewed as procedural rather than fully competitive processes, with dominant-party systems in some states and constrained political space in others limiting genuine electoral contestation. Participants noted cases such as prolonged one-party dominance in Tanzania and Rwanda, restrictions on opposition activity in Uganda, and the absence of electoral transition in South Sudan, alongside a broader contraction of civic space and rising youth-led political discontent. The discussion further emphasized that while electoral institutions continue to operate, their credibility is being tested by structural political constraints, uneven democratic consolidation, and growing public demand for more meaningful participation and accountability.