Top 10 African Countries With the Most Effective Number of Political Parties

In Summary

• Liberia tops the list in Africa with an ENPP score of 6.44 showing how post-war political parties and the ability of voters to demand changes led to a diversified yet active multi-party system.
• High ENPP scores have resulted in more frequent coalition governments, major power turnovers, and runoff elections for several countries showing electoral competition.
• Notably, Countries like Morocco, Tanzania, and Malawi have proved that structural limits do not suppress political fragmentation with the existence of competitive party systems under dominant parties, semi-presidential set-ups, and monarchy.

Deep Dive!!

Many African countries often operate under the scheme of multi-party democracies while having a dominant one-party system. This has reduced voters' options and weakened multiple political parties. The Effective number of political parties has helped to regulate this by focusing on the number of parties that are actually commanding electoral relevance, ruling the people, and influencing legislation. It shows how focused the political system is on vote share or parliamentary seats.

Using the ENPP scores as the criteria for ranking. These countries reveal the strongest signs of competitive democracy through relevant and active political party participation.

10. Burkina Faso

With an ENPP score of 4.11, Burkina Faso has seen major instability in its political system with a recent coup in 2022, yet the country has maintained a competitive electoral history. Parties like the Congress for Democracy and Progress(CDP), People's Movement for Progress(PMP), and Union for Progress and Change(UPC) all play major roles during the post-Compaore transition in 2014, and the elections in 2015 and 2020. The country usually had three or more active parties in legislative elections before the democratic order was disrupted.

9. Central African Republic

The Central African Republic runs an effective multi-party system despite internal conflict and UN peacekeeping presence. Having an ENPP score of 4.18, the country has a ruling party dominance under the United Hearts Movement (MCU) and a strong opposition from the Legacy parties such as NLPC and Kwa Na Kwa. Despite the weak electoral infrastructure, the legislative seats are routinely split among candidates often making the president seek parliamentary consensus outside his party.

8. Comoros

The Comoros political party system is based on the historical succession tensions and island-based autonomy. With an ENPP score of 4.36, the country frequently changes leadership, including the presidency, as agreed in the 2001 Fomboni Accords. Political parties in Comoros are decentralized and coalition dynamics are due to how they align with specific islands like Anjouan, Moheli, and Grande Comore. Although they still have a dominant party, the Union for the Development of the Comoros(UPDC), other parties still compete consistently in legislative elections.

7. Benin

Historically, Benin was among the first African countries to transition to a multi-party system in the 1990s. Despite the changes in the party registration and some exclusion of opposition parties, the Benin political system still remains competitive with an ENPP score of 4.66. Parties like the Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin(FCBE) and Democratic Renewal Party previously ruled under a multi-party system, but now the 2019 reforms have consolidated the parties under only two banners. Notably, the legislative elections still see up to four parties holding a significant number of votes.

6. Gambia

Gambia’s 4.8 ENPP score reflects the significant shift from a single authoritarian rule multi-party system. The authoritarian rule ended in 2016, under the 22-year regime of Yahya Jammeh. In 2021, the country saw an effective multi-party system during the election. Currently, the United Democratic Party(UDP), the Gambia Democratic Congress(GDC), and Adama Barrow’s National People's Party(NPP) now dominate the political system. Frequent changes in Party and Coalition are quite common making the political system quite United with broad alliances.

5. Kenya

Kenya has an ENPP score of 5.11, showing a multi-party system controlled by ethnic based coalitions and regions. Dominant political parties during elections are formed solely for that purpose, thereby dissolving afterwards, creating a regular reconfiguration of power. Although big parties usually win at the parliamentary level, smaller parties often play the role of kingmakers. William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza coalition defeated Raila Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja in the 2022 elections.

4. Malawi

Malawi gained global recognition and trust for its political system when the 2019 presidential elections were nullified due to irregularities. With an ENPP score of 5.19, the country has one of the few peaceful transfers of power by court order in Africa. The multi-party system is all functional and active, with major parties like the Democratic Progressive Party(DPP), the Malawi Congress Party(MCP), and the United Democratic Front(UDF) holding major seats. The parties are yet to achieve a clear-cut majority in recent legislative sessions.

3. Tanzania

Tanzania's political party system is known for its dominant ruling party; surprisingly, its ENPP score of 5.64 reveals active opposition, despite being one of Africa's longest-serving political parties. While the Chama Cha Mapinduzi remains dominant and strong, other parties like ACT- Wazalendo and CHADEMA are now gaining substantial recognition, especially in the urban areas and Zanzibar. The 2020 election was criticized for restrictions on opposition campaigns, but was regulated by the turnout of citizens. Zanzibar’s semi-autonomous status and Tanzania's multi-party system drive the party diversity and institutional checks.

2. Morocco

Morocco’s political system operates under a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament. Having an ENPP score of 5.68, the country shows how political competition can exist among liberal, Islamic, and secular parties. The National Party of Independent(RNI) defeated the long-ruling party, the Justice and Development Party(PJD). A coalition is standard due to less dominant political parties. This diversity promotes power-sharing arrangements, legislative compromise, and inter-party negotiations.

1. Liberia

Liberia tops the list with the highest ENPP score of 6.44 in Africa. The post-war constitution drives political inclusion, and its electorate has regularly favored change. George Weah’s Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) defeated the Unity Party in 2017 and was also defeated by Joseph Boakai in 2023. There is a broad mix of Independent MPs, shifting alliances, and minor Parties in the legislative elections, making majority control difficult.