January 8, 2023

A weekly review of news and analysis of elections in Africa, usually posted on Mondays and occasionally updated throughout the week.

Skyscrapers in Lagos, Nigeria. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Olasunkanmiariyo (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Upcoming Africa Elections

Nigeria General Elections: February 25, 2023

Africanews with AFP (January 10, 2023): Nigeria elections body warns insecurity could derail February vote

DW (January 8, 2023): Nigeria: Gunmen abduct more than 30 in train station attack

Howard W. French, Foreign Policy (January 6, 2023): 2023’s Most Important Election Isn’t Where You Think: Why the world’s eyes will be—or should be—on Nigeria in the coming weeks.

Cameroon Indirect Senate Elections (by members of municipal councils): March 2023 (due)

Journal du Cameroun (January 3, 2023): Senate : 2023, an Electoral Year in Cameroon

Gambia Local Elections: May 13, 2023

Katim Seringe Touray, Modern Diplomacy (January 5, 2023): After Yet Another Coup Attempt, It’s Time for The Gambia to Demilitarize

Zimbabwe General Elections: July 2023 (due)

Nyasha Chingono, The Guardian (January 5, 2023): Zimbabwe court denies opposition MP pre-trial bail for fifteenth time: In an election year, critics of the ruling Zanu-PF party are claiming political persecution over the continued incarceration of Job Sikhala

Sudan General Elections: July 2023 (following coup – delays possible)

Michael At it, Voice of America (January 9, 2023): Sudan’s Military Leader Reiterates Vow to Restore Civilian Rule

Hamza Hendawi and Nada AlTaher, The National UAE (January 9, 2023): Sudan’s Gen Al Burhan says elected government will control the military

Gabon Presidential, Legislative, and Local Elections: August 2023 (due)

Africanews and AFP (January 9, 2023): Gabon: Rose Christian Ossouka Raponda named first-ever female VP

Democratic Republic of the Congo Presidential and Legislative Elections: December 20, 2023

Patrick Ulunga, The East African (January 7, 2023): Military double down on DRC rebels, ready to guard December vote

Senegal Presidential Election: February 2024 (due)

Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR (January 7, 2023): The arrest of a prominent journalist in Senegal has sparked unrest and fears

AFP (January 2, 2023): Senegalese MPs jailed for attacking pregnant legislator in parliament

South Africa General Elections: May 2024 (due)

John Rapley, Foreign Affairs (January 10, 2023): Ramaphosa’s Last Chance: Can the ANC Root Out Corruption and Save South Africa—and Itself?

Bloomberg (January 8, 2023): Ramaphosa Pledges to Fix South Africa’s Governing ANC as Election Looms

Botswana General Elections: October 2024 (due)

Sello Motseta, AP (January 2, 2023): Botswana issues arrest warrant for ex-President Ian Khama

Chad General Elections: October 2024 (additional delays possible due to coup situation)

Patrick Ilunga, The East African (January 6, 2023): Chad claims it foiled attempted coup

Aurore Bonny, Anadolou Agency (January 6, 2023): ‘Destabilization’ plot foiled, 11 officers indicted, says Chad

Somaliland Presidential Election: November 2024 (delayed from 2022)

Abdulkadir Khalif, The East African (January 7, 2023): Ethnic clashes hit Somaliland ahead of this year’s elections

Past Africa Elections

Benin Legislative Elections: January 8, 2023

Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux (January 8, 2023): As Benin votes, bishops urge ‘transparent, democratic’ process

Pulcherie Adjoha, Reuters (January 8, 2023): Benin holds parliamentary election set to test democracy

Angola General Elections: August 24, 2022

Pearl Matinee, Defense Web (January 6, 2023): US-Angola military ties deepen

Tanzania General Elections: October 28, 2020

Oryem Nyeko, Human Rights Watch (January 9, 2023): Tanzania Ends Ban on Political Rallies

Bob Karashani, The East African (January 4, 2023): President Samia Hassan sacks Tanzanian envoy to UN over corruption

BBC (January 3, 2023): Tanzanian leader Samia Suluhu Hassan lifts ban on political rallies

Regional Analysis

Daniel Baltoi, Foreign Policy Research Institute (January 9, 2023): A Deeper Look Into the West African Coup Wave

Alex Vines, Mail and Guardian (January 7, 2023): Political and economic volatility will continue in Africa in 2023

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