July 17, 2023

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

A street in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Erik Cleves Kristensen (CC BY 2.0)

Upcoming Africa Elections

Central African Republic Constitutional Referendum: July 30, 2023

Africanews (July 17, 2023): Central African Republic: Touadera launches campaign for new constitution referendum

Al Jazeera (July 17, 2023): Wagner forces arrive in CAR before referendum: The constitutional referendum on July 30 could abolish term limits and allow President Touadera to run for office in 2025

Africanews and AFP (July 15, 2023): CAR: A few hundreds rally against draft Constitution

Andres Schipani, Financial Times (July 13, 2023): Wagner faces challenge in African stronghold: Divisive vote in Central African Republic is first serious test for the mercenary group since Yevgeny Prigozhin’s mutiny

Zimbabwe General Elections: August 23, 2023

Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux (July 12, 2023): Zimbabwe bishops urge August elections to be ‘different’

Lenin Ndebele, News24 (July 12, 2023): Zimbabwe elections: Banning Kasukuwere ‘an own goal’, says opposition

Farai Mutsaka, Christian Science Monitor (July 10, 2023): Free, fair election? Zimbabwe government cracks down on opposition

Gabon Presidential, Legislative, and Local Elections: August 26, 2023

AFP (July 10, 2023): Gabon’s President Bongo says will vie for a third term in August

Madagascar

Africanews with AFP (July 12, 2023): 

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

Melissa Chemam with RFI (July 17, 2023): Political killing in DRC casts a shadow over plans for December elections

Reuters (July 13, 2023): Congo opposition spokesman shot dead months before election

Senegal Presidential Election: February 2024 (due)

Africanews (July 15, 2023): Senegal: Opposition politician Sonko declared presidential candidate by his party

Nick, Roll, Al Jazeera (July 14, 2023): Succeeding Sall: Who will be Senegal’s next president in 2024?

Wahany Johnson Sambou, Africanews (July 10, 2023): Senegal gearing up for 2024 elections with front runners undecided yet

South Sudan General Elections: 2024 (maybe)

Fred Oluoch, The East African (July 10, 2023): Numerous hurdles ahead of South Sudan’s first-ever general election

Selam Tadesse Demissie, Institute for Security Studies (July 10, 2023): Sudan’s crisis could delay South Sudan’s already slow transition

Past Africa Elections

Sierra Leone Presidential and Legislative Elections: June 24, 2023

Yinka Ibukun, Bloomberg (July 14, 2023): US Questions Vote That Extended Sierra Leone President’s Mandate

United States Department of State (July 14, 2023): On Sierra Leone’s Election

Equatorial Guinea Snap General Elections: November 20, 2022

AFP (July 10, 2023): EU Condemns Jailing Of E.Guinea Opposition Figure

Angola General Elections: August 24, 2022

ACI Africa (July 13, 2023): Catholic Bishops in Angola Advocate for Municipal Government Structure

Africa Elections Coming Up in 2023

Seven countries in Africa are scheduled to elections that will determine who heads the government: Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Gabon, Liberia, Madagascar, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In addition, Sudan has talked about holding long-delays general elections in July, but additional delays are possible. 

Mali Local Elections: June 2023 (due – delays possible)

Zimbabwe General Elections: August 23, 2023

Gabon Presidential Election: August 26, 2023

Eswatini Parliamentary and Local Elections: September 29, 2023

Gabon Legislative Elections: September 2023 (due)

Liberia Presidential and Legislative Elections: October 10, 2023

Mozambique Local Elections: October 11, 2023

Nigeria, Gubernatorial Elections in Imo State, Kogi State, and Bayelsa State: November 11, 2023

Madagascar Presidential Election: October 2023 (due)

Mali Legislative Elections: October 2023 (due – delays possible)

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

Togo Legislative and Regional Elections: December 2023 (due)

Côte d’Ivoire Local Elections (due in 2023)

Comoros Gubernatorial Elections (due in 2023)

Ghana Local Elections (due in 2023)

Guinea-Bissau Local Elections (due in 2023)

Guinea Local Elections (due in 2023 – delays possible to to coup situation)

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