Re-imagining Democracy in Africa (Indira Rama, Nepal)

he High-Level Dialogue on “Re-imagining Democracy in Africa: Comparative Experiences from the Global South" was held on 19–20 June 2025 in Pretoria, South Africa. As one of the results of this event, the participants agreed to share the Pretoria Consensus, with key elements discussed in each session.

Preamble

In an era marked by the erosion of democratic norms, rising authoritarian resurgence, and increasing public disaffection with electoral politics, the imperative to safeguard and revitalize democratic governance has become more urgent than ever. Against this backdrop, over 200 stakeholders from across Africa and the broader Global South convened in Pretoria, South Africa, from 19–20 June 2025, for a High-Level Dialogue under the theme: “Re-imagining Democracy in Africa: Comparative Experiences from the Global South.”

The dialogue, co-hosted by International IDEA, and the Open Society Foundations, the African Union, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of South Africa with the support from the European Union, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs marked a significant milestone in building a South-south platform to strengthen democracy.