The Rule of Law and Civil Liberties in Africa

The widespread reports of human rights abuses across Africa have raised questions about the effectiveness of the rule of law in safeguarding civil liberties. Evidence from a fixed effects Poisson model based on a panel dataset of 51 African countries observed between 2006 and 2021 corroborates the notion that civil liberties are vulnerable in autocratic states, countries with poor electoral practices, economies that grow slowly, countries with limited trade intensities, and countries that are less tolerant to political pluralism. Secondly, while we find upholding the rule of law imperative in safeguarding overall civil liberties, we do not find it guaranteeing and protecting freedom of the press and freedom of expression. We, therefore, against this background, urge African governments to uphold the rule of law in a manner that ensuresthese constitutional freedoms.