Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed concern over the state of democracy in Africa, arguing that the continent’s adoption of Western liberal democracy has left Africans constrained by a political system imposed during the colonial era.

Obasanjo spoke as a panelist at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi State, where he questioned the effectiveness of the democratic model currently practised across much of Africa.

The former president said Africa had yet to develop a distinct democratic system that reflected its history, culture and political realities.

“There is no democracy in Africa, but borrowed and forced liberal democracy that has caged Africans,” Obasanjo said.

He challenged the notion of an established African model of democracy, saying the system was largely inherited from colonial rulers.

“Is there African democracy? Let us not deceive ourselves. There’s nothing like African democracy. We were given Western liberal democracy by our colonial masters,” he said.

Obasanjo said he had become increasingly concerned about the performance of democracy in Africa and other parts of the world.

“For quite some time, I have been increasingly worried about the performance of democracy in Africa, and indeed, in other regions of the world,” he said.

He noted that concerns about the effectiveness of liberal democracy had featured in previous discussions organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation.

However, Obasanjo clarified that his criticism was directed specifically at Western liberal democracy, noting that other countries operate different forms of governance and may not share the view that their systems are failing.

“Let me emphasise that we are referring to Western liberal democracy because the Chinese will not agree with you that their own democracy is dying,” he said.

“And maybe the Swiss, who have practised some form of direct democracy, may also not agree with you that their democracy is dying.”