The 1990s witnessed a general African shift toward democracy and political reform, to the extent that the decade was described as the African Democratic Spring. This transformation was also referred to as the "Second Liberation Wave in Africa," considering that the first liberation occurred when these countries gained independence from European colonialism during the 1950s and 1960s. These descriptions reflected the profound and fundamental transformations that affected societies in African countries. What were the reasons behind Africa’s sudden shift toward democracy? How is the democratization process progressing in Africa? What obstacles and challenges does it face? And what are the possible solutions to address them? Loading Search