ABSTRACT
The wave of uprisings in North Africa, captured under what has been referred to as the Arab Spring, has drawn attention to the potency of the will of the people over authoritarian regimes. In sub-Saharan Africa, the conduct of credible and violence-free elections as the foundational basis for successful democratic elections has continued to elude the people. Hence, while democratic governance is meant to ensure participation of the people in decision-making, single-party dominance, the thwarting of transitions in order to hold on to power, the personalization of power, as well as the refusal by political leaders to concede defeat constitute major obstacles to democratic consolidation. This chapter examines the implications of the Arab Spring for democratic processes in sub-Saharan Africa, which has experienced the rise of illiberal democracies largely due to flawed electoral and democratic processes.
