Africa

February 11, 2019

Each day, 21votes gathers election and political news from a different region of the world. We explore Africa on Mondays. Click the map pins.

Nigeria General - February 16, 2019

Bloomberg: Nigeria’s Brutal Choice: Former Dictator or Alleged Kleptocrat

Caleb Okereke profiles long-shot presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore in African Arguments: “Sowore, backed by the African Action Congress (AAC) party, is determined to “spice up” what he sees as a “tasteless” political environment. He argues that Nigeria desperately needs change, starting from the top.” Although Nigerian politics is dominated by two parties and one of the top two candidates is most likely to win the election, there are currently 72 presidential candidates.

Yomi Kazeem in Quartz: “The current election cycle has seen both parties make coordinated attempts to connect directly with voters and canvass for support with a mix of door to door visitsphone calls and ‘ask me anything’ sessions on social media. These tactics have long been a feature of American and European politics, but have hardly featured in Nigerian elections before now.”

Senegal Presidential - February 24, 2019

France24: “Senegal’s ex-leader Abdoulaye Wade returns to the country ahead of this month’s presidential elections, in which his son’s candidacy has been rejected, and which incumbent Macky Sall is expected to win.”

Comoros Snap Presidential - March 24, 2019

Faiza Soule Youssouf and Kamlesh Bhuckory in Bloomberg: “Comoros blocked the main opposition party’s presidential candidate from participating in the archipelago’s election next month, citing invalid paperwork.”

Malawi Tripartite (Presidential, Legislative, Local) - May 21, 2019

AfricaNews: “Hardly a week after four opposition parties in Malawi formed an alliance to defeat the ruling party, ex-president Joyce Banda on Tuesday broke faith and formally submitted papers to run as a candidate in upcoming elections.”

Cameroon Parliamentary - October 2019 (delays possible)

The United States is reducing security cooperation with Cameroon following reports of human rights violations.

Washington Post’s Siobhan O’Grady reports: “Human rights groups have reported that Cameroonian security forces have targeted civilians in the far north and in the country’s unstable southwest and northwest regions, where the military is battling English-speaking separatists fighting to create a breakaway nation called Ambazonia.”

https://twitter.com/siobhan_ogrady/status/1092930836721270785

Associated Press: “Cameroon is a good counterterrorism partner, but US cannot ignore alleged atrocities, says AFRICOM head”

Sudan Presidential - 2020 and Legislative - 2021 (but events could lead to early elections)

Sudanese citizens have been protesting since December. Mohammed Alamin in Bloomberg: “By day, they could be examining patients, calculating tax returns or teaching Khartoum’s schoolchildren. In their free time, they’re part of a clandestine group helping organize Sudan’s biggest protests in decades — and authorities are desperately hunting them down.”

Adrian Blomfield in the Telegraph: “In the three decades since he seized power in 1989, the Sudanese president has stared down two civil wars, years of sanctions, US airstrikes on his capital and a genocide indictment by the International Criminal Court. Yet the man who sheltered Osama bin Laden for five years is now facing the greatest challenge yet to his rule, not from superpower muscle-flexing or rebels with guns but from a popular revolt led by unarmed junior doctors.”

Suliman Baldo and Lutz Oette in African Arguments: “Sudan: A genuine, peaceful people’s revolution in the making: It’s a question of how and when President al-Bashir’s reign ends, not if.”

Democratic Republic of the Congo General - December 30, 2019

Mo Ibrahim and Alan Doss in The Guardian: “Congo’s election: a defeat for democracy, a disaster for the people: In accepting the controversial outcome of DRC’s presidential election, the global community has failed the country”

France24: “Democratic Republic of Congo’s outgoing government on Monday defended decrees granting former ministers lifetime salaries and other benefits following strong criticism in a country where most of the population lives in poverty.”

Somalia, Puntland General - December 2018

Garowe Online: “Somalia’s northeastern Puntland State is walking on the path to a democractic, multiparty political system and to move away from the clan-based politics….During their session in Garowe, the 66-member state parliament has on Saturday voted to unanimously approve a proposal to establish a roadmap to move to ‘one person, one vote’ elections in 2023.” Currently, clan elders select parliament, who then select the president. Puntland is a semi-autonomous region within Somalia.

Upcoming Elections
Nigeria General – February 16, 2019
Bloomberg: Nigeria’s Brutal Choice: Former Dictator or Alleged Kleptocrat

Caleb Okereke profiles long-shot presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore in African Arguments: “Sowore, backed by the African Action Congress (AAC) party, is determined to “spice up” what he sees as a “tasteless” political environment. He argues that Nigeria desperately needs change, starting from the top.” Although Nigerian politics is dominated by two parties and one of the top two candidates is most likely to win the election, there are currently 72 presidential candidates.

Yomi Kazeem in Quartz: “The current election cycle has seen both parties make coordinated attempts to connect directly with voters and canvass for support with a mix of door to door visitsphone calls and ‘ask me anything’ sessions on social media. These tactics have long been a feature of American and European politics, but have hardly featured in Nigerian elections before now.”

Senegal Presidential – February 24, 2019
France24: “Senegal’s ex-leader Abdoulaye Wade returns to the country ahead of this month’s presidential elections, in which his son’s candidacy has been rejected, and which incumbent Macky Sall is expected to win.”

Comoros Snap Presidential – March 24, 2019
Faiza Soule Youssouf and Kamlesh Bhuckory in Bloomberg: “Comoros blocked the main opposition party’s presidential candidate from participating in the archipelago’s election next month, citing invalid paperwork.”

Malawi Tripartite (Presidential, Legislative, Local) – May 21, 2019
AfricaNews: “Hardly a week after four opposition parties in Malawi formed an alliance to defeat the ruling party, ex-president Joyce Banda on Tuesday broke faith and formally submitted papers to run as a candidate in upcoming elections.”

Cameroon Parliamentary – October 2019 (delays possible)
The United States is reducing security cooperation with Cameroon following reports of human rights violations.

Washington Post’s Siobhan O’Grady reports: “Human rights groups have reported that Cameroonian security forces have targeted civilians in the far north and in the country’s unstable southwest and northwest regions, where the military is battling English-speaking separatists fighting to create a breakaway nation called Ambazonia.”

https://twitter.com/siobhan_ogrady/status/1092930836721270785

Associated Press: “Cameroon is a good counterterrorism partner, but US cannot ignore alleged atrocities, says AFRICOM head”

Sudan Presidential – 2020 and Legislative – 2021 (but events could lead to early elections)
Sudanese citizens have been protesting since December. Mohammed Alamin in Bloomberg: “By day, they could be examining patients, calculating tax returns or teaching Khartoum’s schoolchildren. In their free time, they’re part of a clandestine group helping organize Sudan’s biggest protests in decades — and authorities are desperately hunting them down.”

Adrian Blomfield in the Telegraph: “In the three decades since he seized power in 1989, the Sudanese president has stared down two civil wars, years of sanctions, US airstrikes on his capital and a genocide indictment by the International Criminal Court. Yet the man who sheltered Osama bin Laden for five years is now facing the greatest challenge yet to his rule, not from superpower muscle-flexing or rebels with guns but from a popular revolt led by unarmed junior doctors.”

Suliman Baldo and Lutz Oette in African Arguments: “Sudan: A genuine, peaceful people’s revolution in the making: It’s a question of how and when President al-Bashir’s reign ends, not if.”

Past Elections
Democratic Republic of the Congo General – December 30, 2019
Mo Ibrahim and Alan Doss in The Guardian: “Congo’s election: a defeat for democracy, a disaster for the people: In accepting the controversial outcome of DRC’s presidential election, the global community has failed the country”

France24: “Democratic Republic of Congo’s outgoing government on Monday defended decrees granting former ministers lifetime salaries and other benefits following strong criticism in a country where most of the population lives in poverty.”

Somalia, Puntland General – December 2018
Garowe Online: “Somalia’s northeastern Puntland State is walking on the path to a democractic, multiparty political system and to move away from the clan-based politics….During their session in Garowe, the 66-member state parliament has on Saturday voted to unanimously approve a proposal to establish a roadmap to move to ‘one person, one vote’ elections in 2023.” Currently, clan elders select parliament, who then select the president. Puntland is a semi-autonomous region within Somalia.

On deck: Nigeria general (February 16); Senegal presidential (February 24); Nigeria Rivers state gubernatorial and state legislature (March 2); Guinea legislative (overdue – mandates of current legislators expired January 13 – date not set for new elections – some arguing for April 4); Guinea-Bissau legislative (delayed to March 10 – further delays possible); Comoros, snap presidential and regional (March 24); Guinea-Bissau presidential (scheduled for April – delays possible); Mali legislative (scheduled for April – tentative); Mauritania legislative (scheduled for May – tentative); South Africa legislative and provincial (May 8); Malawi tripartite – presidential, legislative, local (May 21); Madagascar parliamentary (May 27);  Botswana parliamentary (October); Mozambique presidential, legislative, provincial (October 15); Namibia presidential and legislative (November); Somalia, Somaliland congressional and local (November 1, 2019 – tentative); Mauritius legislative (December or January)

 


Khartoum, capital of Sudan.
Photo credit: Christopher Michel

21votes does not necessarily endorse all of the views in all of the linked articles or publications. Election dates can change – please let us know if a date has changed.

 

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