The study was conducted across ten African countries, which include Ghana, Benin, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. This sample represents the four main sub-regions of the continent: West Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, and Central Africa. The data collected by DemCap encompasses 370 institutions and agencies, which are categorized into six key dimensions of democracy capture across the ten countries.

Methods for Democracy Capture

The report shows that perpetrators use three methods to capture democracy. They include;

• Financial inducement or bribes.
• Political pressure or threat of withdrawal of support.
• Threats of removal from office.

Key Findings of the DemCap Research Project

• The DemCap report reveals a concerning trend of democracy capture across all the countries analyzed. It indicates that 60% of the examined institutions exhibit some level of capture by a perpetrator. In many of these democracies, the chief executive, typically the president, has been identified as the primary perpetrator of this capture. Presidents may exploit their access to state resources and control over lucrative appointments to persuade members of the National Assembly to consistently support their legislative proposals. This practice undermines parliamentary accountability.
• Business people and influential individuals outside the formal political system play a significant role in the capture of democracy and are often as likely to be perpetrators as political parties. At the same time, business cartels connected to political leaders may attempt to take control of various public institutions, such as the tax revenue authority, police force, and judiciary, enabling their companies to evade taxes and fees.
• The DemCap report indicates that the actions of perpetrators lead to harmful effects on various activities. These include procurement processes, public prosecutions, legislative oversight, the implementation of reforms, and the delivery of public services. Additionally, these actions undermine accountability and weaken the overall resilience of the democratic system.
• The report further indicates that among the ten countries assessed, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, and Tanzania are the most vulnerable to potential future democracy capture.

Democratic capture often aims not to destroy democracy outright but to reshape it into a system that serves elite interests while maintaining the appearance of democratic governance. Many individuals involved may not intend to undermine democracy; however, their actions frequently manipulate institutions to benefit narrow agendas, ultimately weakening the vitality and resilience of democratic systems. In some cases, these individuals may even believe their interventions are harmless. Nevertheless, the cumulative impact of their actions, especially when they involve the manipulation of enforcement agencies or regulatory bodies, raises significant concerns.

No country is immune to democratic capture. The DemCap Project report provides a new framework for studying democratic capture and investigating its consequences in the immediate, medium, and long term for various countries. By offering this perspective, it serves as a powerful tool for advocacy, reform, and the renewal of democratic accountability.