WorldPolitics

Vote young yet govern much later: West African youth’s struggle for power

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 26/10/2026, 08:45:24 UTC.

Briefings

West African youth face a structural barrier where voting age is 18 but presidential eligibility varies widely from 30 to 50. While young people drive political movements through protests and voting, they cannot run for office, creating a gap between participation and representation. In Togo, the 2024 constitutional reform set a 50-year limit for the presidency, though the law remains flexible. Despite youth-led protests in Senegal, Togo, and Madagascar, the region's legislative bodies still lack significant youth representation, with elected officials under 30 comprising only 2.8% of parliamentarians globally. The Inter-Parliamentary Report notes progress stalled since 2014, and Ghana's 2025 term saw no parliamentarians under 30 despite a 21-year legal minimum.

Key points

• In West Africa, the voting age is 18, but presidential eligibility ages vary widely from 30 to 50 depending on the country.
• Despite youth-led protests in Senegal, Togo, and Madagascar, the region's legislative bodies still lack significant youth representation, with elected officials under 30 comprising only 2.8% of parliamentarians globally.

Context

This briefing examines the structural mismatch between youth political participation and representation in West Africa. While young people are eligible to vote at 18, they face high age barriers for office, with eligibility ranging from 30 to 50 years old. This disparity limits their ability to influence governance despite active street movements and voting participation.

Limitations

Data sources include Inter-Parliamentary Union reports and Global Voices. Some figures are estimates or subject to future legislative changes, such as Ghana's pending referendum. Specific country details like Togo's 2024 constitutional reform and Madagascar's 2025 protests are based on reported events up to the article's publication date.

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