October 14, 2024
A weekly review of news and analysis of elections in Africa, usually posted on Mondays and occasionally updated throughout the week.
A dhow – a type of traditional trading vessel – off the coast of Mozambique. Photo credit: Wikimedia/F Mira (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Upcoming Africa Elections
Botswana Legislative and Local Elections: October 30, 2024
Damian Zane and Innocent Selatlhwa, BBC (October 9, 2024): How friends became foes in Africa’s diamond state
Carien du Plessis, The Africa Report (October 9, 2024): Botswana elections: Meet the parties
Mauritius Parliamentary Elections: November 10, 2024
Mauritius announced its general elections right after Britain announce that it would cede the Chagos Islands, a strategic archipelago in the Indian Ocean that houses the Diego Garcia air base, to Mauritius. Diego Garcia is a key base for both the United Kingdom and the United States. Mauritius has close ties with China, including a free trade agreement inked in 2021.
John Njiraini, Global Finance (October 8, 2024): Mauritius At A Crossroads
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.
Portia Crowe and Diadie Ba, Reuters (October 14, 2024): Senegal unveils 25-year economic and social development plan
Namibia Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 27, 2024
Peter Clottey, Voice of America (October 14, 2024): Namibia’s President Nangolo Mbumba speaks to VOA on SWAPO party’s future
Ghana Presidential and Legislative Elections: December 7, 2024
Mandy Agyemang, Ghanaweb (October 10, 2024): Meet the 3 female running mates in the 2024 general elections
Chad Legislative and Local Elections: December 29, 2024
AFP (October 14, 2024): Chad Tightens Media Controls Ahead Of Elections
Comoros Legislative Elections: January 12, 2025
Reuters (October 13, 2024): Comoros to hold parliamentary elections on Jan. 12
Cameroon General Elections: Due in 2025, delayed to 2026
Eromo Egbejule, The Guardian (October 11, 2024): Cameroon bans discussing president’s health as absence fuels speculation
The Africa Report (October 10, 2024): Cameroon: Meet Patricia Balme, Paul Biya’s devoted spin doctor
Franck Foute, The Africa Report (October 8, 2024): Cameroon’s Biya urged to run in 2025 despite health issues
Paul Melly, BBC (October 10, 2024): The 91-year-old African president who keeps defying death rumours
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: Delayed
Mali had set presidential and legislative elections for February 27, 2022, following the August 2020 coup, but the interim government has proposed a delay to December 2025, sparking a backlash from neighboring countries and the international community.
In the coup, soldiers removed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (who has since died at age 76, having been in poor health for years), dissolved parliament (which had just been elected in April, in elections marred by fraud and intimidation) and established a transitional government.
International Crisis Group notes: “Since the coup in May 2021, Mali’s authorities have developed closer relations with Russia, now the country’s preferred military partner. In parallel, they have distanced themselves from several Western and regional partners, notably France.”
Diakaridia Dembele, Bloomberg (October 14, 2024): Mali Junta Sets Aside Election Funds Without Setting Poll Date
South Sudan General Elections: December 22, 2026 (delayed yet again, this time from December 2024)
IPI Global Observatory (October 15, 2024): What Could End the Long Postponement of South Sudan’s First Elections?
Past Africa Elections
Mozambique Presidential and Legislative Elections: October 9, 2024
Mozambique’s politics have been dominated by FRELIMO, which has been in power since 1975, when Mozambique became independent, and the main opposition RENAMO. The parties evolved from armed groups that fought a civil war between 1976 and 1992 (and have engaged in clashes since then until an August 2019 peace accord). The Soviet Union backed FRELIMO, while Rhodesia and then apartheid South Africa backed RENAMO.
Gersende Rambourg, AFP (October 10, 2024): As Mozambique Counts Ballots, The Results Are Already Disputed
AFP (October 9, 2024): Mozambique casts ballots for president, parliament in tense vote
South Africa General Elections: May 29, 2024
Ipsos (October 10, 2024): South Africans showing some optimism: Are we turning the corner?
Martina Schwikowski, DW (October 8, 2024): South Africa’s unity government — are voters happy?
Elections On Deck
Africa This Week: October 14, 2024
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Last Updated: October 26, 2024 by 21votes
October 14, 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
Botswana Legislative and Local Elections: October 30, 2024
Damian Zane and Innocent Selatlhwa, BBC (October 9, 2024): How friends became foes in Africa’s diamond state
Carien du Plessis, The Africa Report (October 9, 2024): Botswana elections: Meet the parties
Mauritius Parliamentary Elections: November 10, 2024
Mauritius announced its general elections right after Britain announce that it would cede the Chagos Islands, a strategic archipelago in the Indian Ocean that houses the Diego Garcia air base, to Mauritius. Diego Garcia is a key base for both the United Kingdom and the United States. Mauritius has close ties with China, including a free trade agreement inked in 2021.
John Njiraini, Global Finance (October 8, 2024): Mauritius At A Crossroads
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.
Portia Crowe and Diadie Ba, Reuters (October 14, 2024): Senegal unveils 25-year economic and social development plan
Namibia Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 27, 2024
Peter Clottey, Voice of America (October 14, 2024): Namibia’s President Nangolo Mbumba speaks to VOA on SWAPO party’s future
Ghana Presidential and Legislative Elections: December 7, 2024
Mandy Agyemang, Ghanaweb (October 10, 2024): Meet the 3 female running mates in the 2024 general elections
Chad Legislative and Local Elections: December 29, 2024
AFP (October 14, 2024): Chad Tightens Media Controls Ahead Of Elections
Comoros Legislative Elections: January 12, 2025
Reuters (October 13, 2024): Comoros to hold parliamentary elections on Jan. 12
Cameroon General Elections: Due in 2025, delayed to 2026
Eromo Egbejule, The Guardian (October 11, 2024): Cameroon bans discussing president’s health as absence fuels speculation
The Africa Report (October 10, 2024): Cameroon: Meet Patricia Balme, Paul Biya’s devoted spin doctor
Franck Foute, The Africa Report (October 8, 2024): Cameroon’s Biya urged to run in 2025 despite health issues
Paul Melly, BBC (October 10, 2024): The 91-year-old African president who keeps defying death rumours
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: Delayed
Mali had set presidential and legislative elections for February 27, 2022, following the August 2020 coup, but the interim government has proposed a delay to December 2025, sparking a backlash from neighboring countries and the international community.
In the coup, soldiers removed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (who has since died at age 76, having been in poor health for years), dissolved parliament (which had just been elected in April, in elections marred by fraud and intimidation) and established a transitional government.
International Crisis Group notes: “Since the coup in May 2021, Mali’s authorities have developed closer relations with Russia, now the country’s preferred military partner. In parallel, they have distanced themselves from several Western and regional partners, notably France.”
Diakaridia Dembele, Bloomberg (October 14, 2024): Mali Junta Sets Aside Election Funds Without Setting Poll Date
South Sudan General Elections: December 22, 2026 (delayed yet again, this time from December 2024)
IPI Global Observatory (October 15, 2024): What Could End the Long Postponement of South Sudan’s First Elections?
Past Africa Elections
Mozambique Presidential and Legislative Elections: October 9, 2024
Mozambique’s politics have been dominated by FRELIMO, which has been in power since 1975, when Mozambique became independent, and the main opposition RENAMO. The parties evolved from armed groups that fought a civil war between 1976 and 1992 (and have engaged in clashes since then until an August 2019 peace accord). The Soviet Union backed FRELIMO, while Rhodesia and then apartheid South Africa backed RENAMO.
Gersende Rambourg, AFP (October 10, 2024): As Mozambique Counts Ballots, The Results Are Already Disputed
AFP (October 9, 2024): Mozambique casts ballots for president, parliament in tense vote
South Africa General Elections: May 29, 2024
Ipsos (October 10, 2024): South Africans showing some optimism: Are we turning the corner?
Martina Schwikowski, DW (October 8, 2024): South Africa’s unity government — are voters happy?
Elections On Deck
Category: This Week Tags: Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Ghana, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan