September 30, 2024
A weekly review of news and analysis of elections in Africa, usually posted on Mondays and occasionally updated throughout the week.
The African Renaissance Monument in Dakar, Senegal, a controversial statue completed in 2010. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Jeff Attaway (CC BY 2.0)
Upcoming Africa Elections
Mozambique Presidential and Legislative Elections: October 9, 2024
Geraldine Boechat, MedaFrica (September 25, 2024): Mozambique: At least 30 people arrested in one month of election campaign
LUSA (September 24, 2024 – in Portuguese): Mozambique elections: Political intolerance “worsened”
Botswana Legislative and Local Elections: October 30, 2024
Muhammad Hussain, New24 (September 23, 2024): Former Botswana president Khama returns home to face charges and campaign for opposition
Senegal Snap Legislative Elections: November 17, 2024
For a long time, Senegal was considered a stable democracy, but backsliding and protests riled the tenure of former president Macky Sall, who served until this year and was not eligible to run for a third term. Sall’s chosen successor, Amadou Ba, lost to leftist opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye in this year’s presidential election, which took place in March. Faye is now holding legislative elections to consolidate his hold on power.
A series of oil and gas discoveries starting in 2014 have set Senegal up to become a player in energy production, upping the geopolitical and international economic stakes of Senegal’s politics.
Le Monde with AFP (September 26, 2024): Senegal PM vows ‘corruption’ probe into former government
Africanews (September 24, 2024): Senegal: Opposition parties unite ahead of the legislative elections
Tanzania Local Elections: November 27, 2024
Basillioh Rukanga, BBC (September 26, 2024): Why Samia’s hesitant reforms are fuelling Tanzanian political anger
Carlos Mureithi, The Guardian (September 23, 2024): Tanzania opposition leaders arrested amid crackdown on dissent
Cameroon General Elections: Due in 2025, delayed to 2026
Georges Dougueli, The Africa Report (September 26, 2024): Glencore affair could cause political earthquake in Cameroon
South Sudan General Elections: December 22, 2026 (delayed yet again, this time from December 2024)
Reuters (September 23, 2024): South Sudan lawyers challenge the postponement of elections in court
Burkina Faso General Elections: Delayed Indefinitely (following coup)
AP (September 24, 2024): Burkina Faso’s ruling junta claims foiling an attempt to destabilize the country
Guinea Elections: Timetable unclear following 2021 coup
AFP (September 26, 2024): Guinea Opponent Slams Junta Chief’s Possible Presidential Bid
Past Africa Elections
Nigeria, State Elections in Edo State: September 21, 2024 (followed by local elections in Abia on November 2 and state elections in Ondo on November 16, 2024 – next national elections are in 2027)
Mansur Abubakar, BBC (September 24, 2024): Nigeria’s ruling party wins first test since Tinubu elected
Eniola Akinkuotu, The Africa Report (September 23, 2024): Tinubu’s Victory in Edo: A Sign of APC’s Dominance Before 2027 Elections
Eswatini Parliamentary and Local Elections: September 29, 2023
Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is an absolute monarchy. The country does hold parliamentary elections, but the parliament does not actually have much power, and the elections are tightly controlled, without much choice for voters.
AP (September 25, 2024): Eswatini opposition party claims its leader was poisoned in an assassination attempt
Benin Legislative Elections: January 8, 2023
Benin had been a stable democracy until 2016, when President Patrice Talon started the country down a more authoritarian path. The opposition was exuded from the 2019 legislative elections. However, they were able to run this year, and won 28 out of 109 seats.
The next presidential election is due in 2026 and it is unclear whether Talon will pursue another term.
Romuald Vissoh, Africanews (September 26, 2024): Benin: Prominent personalities, allies of President Talon accused of plotting coup
Wycliffe Muia and Azeezat Olaoluwa, BBC (September 26, 2024): Benin arrests three men over suspected coup plot
Regional News and Analysis
Darlene Superville, AP (September 24, 2024): Biden is making his long-awaited visit to Africa in October. He’ll stop in Germany, then Angola
Elections On Deck
Africa This Week: September 30, 2024
Leave a Comment
Last Updated: October 8, 2024 by 21votes
September 30, 2024
A weekly review of news and analysis of elections in Africa, usually posted on Mondays and occasionally updated throughout the week.
Upcoming Africa Elections
Mozambique Presidential and Legislative Elections: October 9, 2024
Geraldine Boechat, MedaFrica (September 25, 2024): Mozambique: At least 30 people arrested in one month of election campaign
LUSA (September 24, 2024 – in Portuguese): Mozambique elections: Political intolerance “worsened”
Botswana Legislative and Local Elections: October 30, 2024
Muhammad Hussain, New24 (September 23, 2024): Former Botswana president Khama returns home to face charges and campaign for opposition
Senegal Snap Legislative Elections: November 17, 2024
For a long time, Senegal was considered a stable democracy, but backsliding and protests riled the tenure of former president Macky Sall, who served until this year and was not eligible to run for a third term. Sall’s chosen successor, Amadou Ba, lost to leftist opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye in this year’s presidential election, which took place in March. Faye is now holding legislative elections to consolidate his hold on power.
A series of oil and gas discoveries starting in 2014 have set Senegal up to become a player in energy production, upping the geopolitical and international economic stakes of Senegal’s politics.
Le Monde with AFP (September 26, 2024): Senegal PM vows ‘corruption’ probe into former government
Africanews (September 24, 2024): Senegal: Opposition parties unite ahead of the legislative elections
Tanzania Local Elections: November 27, 2024
Basillioh Rukanga, BBC (September 26, 2024): Why Samia’s hesitant reforms are fuelling Tanzanian political anger
Carlos Mureithi, The Guardian (September 23, 2024): Tanzania opposition leaders arrested amid crackdown on dissent
Cameroon General Elections: Due in 2025, delayed to 2026
Georges Dougueli, The Africa Report (September 26, 2024): Glencore affair could cause political earthquake in Cameroon
South Sudan General Elections: December 22, 2026 (delayed yet again, this time from December 2024)
Reuters (September 23, 2024): South Sudan lawyers challenge the postponement of elections in court
Burkina Faso General Elections: Delayed Indefinitely (following coup)
AP (September 24, 2024): Burkina Faso’s ruling junta claims foiling an attempt to destabilize the country
Guinea Elections: Timetable unclear following 2021 coup
AFP (September 26, 2024): Guinea Opponent Slams Junta Chief’s Possible Presidential Bid
Past Africa Elections
Nigeria, State Elections in Edo State: September 21, 2024 (followed by local elections in Abia on November 2 and state elections in Ondo on November 16, 2024 – next national elections are in 2027)
Mansur Abubakar, BBC (September 24, 2024): Nigeria’s ruling party wins first test since Tinubu elected
Eniola Akinkuotu, The Africa Report (September 23, 2024): Tinubu’s Victory in Edo: A Sign of APC’s Dominance Before 2027 Elections
Eswatini Parliamentary and Local Elections: September 29, 2023
Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is an absolute monarchy. The country does hold parliamentary elections, but the parliament does not actually have much power, and the elections are tightly controlled, without much choice for voters.
AP (September 25, 2024): Eswatini opposition party claims its leader was poisoned in an assassination attempt
Benin Legislative Elections: January 8, 2023
Benin had been a stable democracy until 2016, when President Patrice Talon started the country down a more authoritarian path. The opposition was exuded from the 2019 legislative elections. However, they were able to run this year, and won 28 out of 109 seats.
The next presidential election is due in 2026 and it is unclear whether Talon will pursue another term.
Romuald Vissoh, Africanews (September 26, 2024): Benin: Prominent personalities, allies of President Talon accused of plotting coup
Wycliffe Muia and Azeezat Olaoluwa, BBC (September 26, 2024): Benin arrests three men over suspected coup plot
Regional News and Analysis
Darlene Superville, AP (September 24, 2024): Biden is making his long-awaited visit to Africa in October. He’ll stop in Germany, then Angola
Elections On Deck
Category: This Week Tags: Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Eswatini, Guinea, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania