October 21, 2024
A weekly review of news and analysis of elections in Africa, usually posted on Mondays and occasionally updated throughout the week.
Rock paintings at Tsodilo Hills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Botswana. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Joachim Huber (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Upcoming Africa Elections
Botswana Legislative and Local Elections: October 30, 2024
Carien du Plessis, The Africa Report (October 18, 2024): Botswana parties campaign for change as diamonds lose shine
Mqondisi Dube, Voice of America (October 18, 2024): Botswana’s electoral agency warns opposition against rigging claims
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.
Jude Atemanke, Association for Catholic Information in Africa (October 20, 2024): “Sacred duty”: Church Leaders in Mauritius Call for Responsible Participation in General Elections
The Economist (October 16, 2024): It would be a mistake for Britain to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius
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.
RFI (October 19, 2024 – in French): Senegal: Recomposition of the political landscape, one month before the legislative elections
AFP (October 17, 2024 – in French): Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko aims for “overwhelming” majority in legislative elections
Namibia Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 27, 2024
The Africa Report (October 16, 2024): Namibian Elections 2024: A Breakdown of the Five Key Parties Contending for Power
Tanzania Local Elections: November 27, 2024
Reuters (October 20, 2024): Senior Tanzanian opposition party official abducted and seriously injured, party says
Nicodemus Minde, The Conversation (October 18, 2024): Who is Tundu Lissu? Tanzania’s opposition leader is fighting for change in the face of fresh attacks on political freedoms
Ghana Presidential and Legislative Elections: December 7, 2024
AFP (October 18, 2024): Ghana Opposition Becomes New Majority In Parliament Ahead Of Elections
Ekow Dontoh, Bloomberg (October 18, 2024): Ghana’s Ruling Party to Boycott Parliament After Losing Majority
Chad Legislative and Local Elections: December 29, 2024
Dominic Wabwireh, Africanews (October 21, 2024): Leading opposition in Chad announces boycott of legislative elections
André Kodmadjingar, Voice of America (October 18, 2024): Concerns over press freedom grow in Chad amid new restrictions ahead of elections
Burundi Legislative and Local Elections: June 5, 2025; Senate Elections: July 23, 2025; and Village Elections: August 2-22, 2025
New Vision (October 17, 2024): Burundi announces timetable for 2025 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.
Melissa Chemam, RFI (October 21, 2024): Mozambique opposition calls strike amid election fraud claims and assassinations
Rachel Savage, The Guardian (October 19, 2024): Mozambique opposition figures killed as protest grows over election results
AP (October 16, 2024): Long-ruling party leads in Mozambique’s election as opposition candidate calls for strikes
David Matsinhe, The Conversation (October 16, 2024): Mozambique’s 2024 elections: 9 major challenges that will face the new president
Antonio Cascais, DW (October 15, 2024): Opposition reports election fraud in Mozambique
Regional News
The Africa Report (October 17, 2024): Which African will be the new Commonwealth secretary‑general?
Elections On Deck
Africa This Week: October 21, 2024
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Last Updated: October 30, 2024 by 21votes
October 21, 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
Carien du Plessis, The Africa Report (October 18, 2024): Botswana parties campaign for change as diamonds lose shine
Mqondisi Dube, Voice of America (October 18, 2024): Botswana’s electoral agency warns opposition against rigging claims
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.
Jude Atemanke, Association for Catholic Information in Africa (October 20, 2024): “Sacred duty”: Church Leaders in Mauritius Call for Responsible Participation in General Elections
The Economist (October 16, 2024): It would be a mistake for Britain to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius
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.
RFI (October 19, 2024 – in French): Senegal: Recomposition of the political landscape, one month before the legislative elections
AFP (October 17, 2024 – in French): Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko aims for “overwhelming” majority in legislative elections
Namibia Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 27, 2024
The Africa Report (October 16, 2024): Namibian Elections 2024: A Breakdown of the Five Key Parties Contending for Power
Tanzania Local Elections: November 27, 2024
Reuters (October 20, 2024): Senior Tanzanian opposition party official abducted and seriously injured, party says
Nicodemus Minde, The Conversation (October 18, 2024): Who is Tundu Lissu? Tanzania’s opposition leader is fighting for change in the face of fresh attacks on political freedoms
Ghana Presidential and Legislative Elections: December 7, 2024
AFP (October 18, 2024): Ghana Opposition Becomes New Majority In Parliament Ahead Of Elections
Ekow Dontoh, Bloomberg (October 18, 2024): Ghana’s Ruling Party to Boycott Parliament After Losing Majority
Chad Legislative and Local Elections: December 29, 2024
Dominic Wabwireh, Africanews (October 21, 2024): Leading opposition in Chad announces boycott of legislative elections
André Kodmadjingar, Voice of America (October 18, 2024): Concerns over press freedom grow in Chad amid new restrictions ahead of elections
Burundi Legislative and Local Elections: June 5, 2025; Senate Elections: July 23, 2025; and Village Elections: August 2-22, 2025
New Vision (October 17, 2024): Burundi announces timetable for 2025 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.
Melissa Chemam, RFI (October 21, 2024): Mozambique opposition calls strike amid election fraud claims and assassinations
Rachel Savage, The Guardian (October 19, 2024): Mozambique opposition figures killed as protest grows over election results
AP (October 16, 2024): Long-ruling party leads in Mozambique’s election as opposition candidate calls for strikes
David Matsinhe, The Conversation (October 16, 2024): Mozambique’s 2024 elections: 9 major challenges that will face the new president
Antonio Cascais, DW (October 15, 2024): Opposition reports election fraud in Mozambique
Regional News
The Africa Report (October 17, 2024): Which African will be the new Commonwealth secretary‑general?
Elections On Deck
Category: This Week Tags: Botswana, Burundi, Chad, Ghana, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, Tanzania