The quality of leadership in Africa is closely tied to the efficiency of its electoral systems, making it essential to evaluate the processes that bring leaders to power. According to the Democracy Index report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Mauritius, Botswana, Cape Verde, and Lesotho have emerged as the top performers in the electoral index, achieving impressive scores that rival global leaders.

The report assesses electoral processes across the continent using several indicators, including electoral process and pluralism, functioning government, political participation, political culture and environment, and civil liberties. The index category comprises 12 indicators that encompass all the essential elements to ensure fair elections and political pluralism.

Globally, the average score for electoral process and pluralism declined by 0.10 points in 2023. However, the four African countries mentioned above excelled in the electoral index, achieving scores of 9.17, which is comparable to global leaders. Ghana, Zambia, Liberia, South Africa, Malawi, and Namibia followed closely, with scores ranging from 7.00 to 8.33.

The report highlights the challenges that often arise during elections, leading to the disenfranchisement of many voters. These issues include poor access to rural areas, irregular voter registrations, political violence, and technical malfunctions. Despite significant financial investments in elections across Africa, some countries have failed to address these basic obstacles, hindering citizens from exercising their fundamental right to choose their leaders.

Sub-Saharan Africa spent nearly $44.3 billion on elections between 2000 and 2018, with an electoral cost per capita of $4.50, twice the world average and higher than in Europe, North America, and Australasia, despite having a much lower GDP per capita. This highlights the need for African countries to prioritize electoral reform and invest in efficient electoral systems.

The Democracy Index report also reveals that the scores for electoral process and pluralism remained unchanged in the world's two most democratic regions: North America and Western Europe, at 9.58 and 9.39, respectively. Eastern Europe and Central Asia saw a slight improvement, with their score rising to 6.27 from 6.24 in 2022.

The most significant decline occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the score dropped by 0.19 points, reaching 3.33. This decline underscores the need for African countries to prioritize electoral reform and invest in efficient electoral systems to ensure fair and inclusive elections.

In conclusion, the Democracy Index report highlights the importance of efficient electoral systems in ensuring fair and inclusive elections. The top performers in the electoral index, including Mauritius, Botswana, Cape Verde, and Lesotho, serve as a model for other African countries to emulate. As Africa continues to develop, it is essential to prioritize electoral reform and invest in efficient electoral systems to ensure that citizens can exercise their fundamental right to choose their leaders.