Upcoming Elections
Democratic Republic of the Congo General – December 30, 2018
Long-delayed elections to replace Joseph Kabila, who ruled the DRC for nearly two decades, have once again been postponed by a week to December 30 after a fire in Kinshasa destroyed 80 percent of the capital’s stock of voting machines. The move has further aggravated tensions and sparked protests.
The opposition believes that the delays are a ploy for the Kabila government to remain in power. The election commission said the delay was due to an eruption of violence resulting in 100 deaths, not enough ballot papers, and an ebola outbreak. Despite obvious challenges in organizing the polls, the election commission refused offers of international assistance.
Voice of America gathers the views of various stakeholders.
The Economist notes: “[Congo’s] 80m people are getting a little impatient. Although the country has vast mineral wealth, more than 70% of its people survive on less than $1.90 a day. For more than five decades it has been misruled by a string of kleptocrats, Mr Kabila junior included. More than 100 rebel militias operate around the country, and a jihadist group is terrorising an area in the east where an Ebola outbreak is also raging.”
Nigeria – February 16, 2019
John Campbell at the Council on Foreign Relations writes that the international community must pay attention to the Nigerian military’s conduct, which has in recent months included killing peaceful protesters.
Senegal – February 24, 2019
Al Jazeera reports on the Senegalese opposition’s creative campaign tactics.
Guinea-Bissau Legislative – March 10, 2019
Guinea-Bissau’s president has announced that legislative elections will take place on March 10, 2019 after several delays and much international pressure. The elections have already been delayed multiple times, and both the UN and ECOWAS wanted them held by the end of January. At a December 21 meeting, UN diplomats emphasized the importance of holding the elections and resolving Guinea-Bissau’s political crisis.
Recent Elections
Madagascar Presidential Runoff
Both candidates for Madagascar’s presidency have declared victory, even though many ballots remain uncounted. Provisional results should be available within a week. Both candidates have said they would wait for the official results and accept the outcome.
Guinea Local
Jeune Afrique reports that ten months after Guinea’s local elections in February 2018, the newly elected officials have still not all taken up their offices. Officials blame election disputes for the delay.
Somalia South West State
Voice of America reports: “Lawmakers in Somalia’s South West region elected a new president Wednesday, with a former leader of militant group al-Shabab kept off the ballot despite angry protests last week from supporters. Officials confirmed to VOA that Somalia’s former state minister for trade, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed, also known as Lafta Gareen, is the region’s new leader. Mohamed won 101 out of 147 votes from regional lawmakers, defeating three other candidates.” Meanwhile, an explosion in Mogadishu on December 22 killed 30 people.
Togo
Al Jazeera reports: “At least four people have been killed during protests in the capital Lome and other cities during weeks of anti-government protests, but election day was calm under a heavy military presence. The ruling Union for the Republic party is expected to maintain its parliamentary majority.”
The opposition and religious leaders had called for a boycott, and it seems they got their wish. Turnout was low. Opposition spokesperson Farida Bemba Nabourema tweeted:
Other Regional News and Views
Burundi
A small win for human rights – feminist activist Arielle Sabushimike, who had been detained earlier this month, has been released, following a Twitter campaign with hashtag #FreeArielleSabushimike. However, other Burundi activists remain detained or disappeared. As Freedom House notes: “A June [2017] report published jointly by the International Federation for Human Rights and Burundian human rights groups said that over the two years of the conflict, at least 1,200 people had been killed, 400 to 900 had been forcibly disappeared, at least several hundred had been tortured, and more than 10,000 had been detained arbitrarily.”
In a surprise move, on December 21, President Pierre Nkurunziza announced that Burundi’s capital would move from Bujumbura, a city of over one million people on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, to the sleepy town of Gitega in the country’s interior. The opposition says the move amounts to a symbolic reinstatement of the monarchy as Gitega used to be the seat of the royal family. Bujumbura is an opposition stronghold.
Some are not impressed:
Cameroon
Cameroon continues its crackdown on journalists amid conflict in the English-speaking regions that has caused tens of thousands to seek refuge in Nigeria. Cameroon’s post-election political crisis remains ongoing.
Comoros
The Economist examines “Intrigue in the world’s most coup-prone island paradise.” President Azali Assoumani aspires to autocracy. Last week, another 20 opposition figures were sentenced to long prison terms and hard labor, including former vice president Jaffar Ahmed Said Hassani. News24 reports: “Hassani fell out of favour with the government in June for his open criticism of Azali’s constitutional reforms, which were overwhelmingly passed during July’s controversial referendum. The reforms allow Assoumani run for another term in office and overturn a five-year rotation of power between Comoros’ three main islands to ensure political balance in this coup-prone country.”
Eritrea
Abraham T. Zere, exiled executive director of PEN Eritrea, writes: “[Eritrea’s president-for-life Isaias Afwerki] has long overseen a closed political system, but this year, its secrecy has reached new heights. While the president used to maintain close relations with his subordinates as a way of control, he is now making momentous decisions almost single-handedly. He is governing without informing, let alone consulting, his colleagues.”
A voter in Walikale, North Kivu, home of the DRC’s largest tin deposits, during the 2011 general elections.
Photo credit: MONUSCO/Sylvain Liechti
21votes does not necessarily endorse all of the views in all of the linked articles or publications.
Africa This Week – December 24, 2018
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Last Updated: December 31, 2018 by 21votes
Each day, 21votes gathers election and political news from a different region of the world. We explore Africa on Mondays. Click the map pins.
Democratic Republic of the Congo General - December 30, 2018
Long-delayed elections to replace Joseph Kabila, who ruled the DRC for nearly two decades, have once again been postponed by a week to December 30 after a fire in Kinshasa destroyed 80 percent of the capital’s stock of voting machines. The move has further aggravated tensions and sparked protests.
The opposition believes that the delays are a ploy for the Kabila government to remain in power. The election commission said the delay was due to an eruption of violence resulting in 100 deaths, not enough ballot papers, and an ebola outbreak. Despite obvious challenges in organizing the polls, the election commission refused offers of international assistance.
Voice of America gathers the views of various stakeholders.
The Economist notes: “[Congo’s] 80m people are getting a little impatient. Although the country has vast mineral wealth, more than 70% of its people survive on less than $1.90 a day. For more than five decades it has been misruled by a string of kleptocrats, Mr Kabila junior included. More than 100 rebel militias operate around the country, and a jihadist group is terrorising an area in the east where an Ebola outbreak is also raging.”
Nigeria - February 16, 2019
John Campbell at the Council on Foreign Relations writes that the international community must pay attention to the Nigerian military’s conduct, which has in recent months included killing peaceful protesters.
Senegal - February 24, 2019
Al Jazeera reports on the Senegalese opposition’s creative campaign tactics.
Guinea-Bissau Legislative - March 10, 2019
Guinea-Bissau’s president has announced that legislative elections will take place on March 10, 2019 after several delays and much international pressure. The elections have already been delayed multiple times, and both the UN and ECOWAS wanted them held by the end of January. At a December 21 meeting, UN diplomats emphasized the importance of holding the elections and resolving Guinea-Bissau’s political crisis.
Madagascar Presidential Runoff
Both candidates for Madagascar’s presidency have declared victory, even though many ballots remain uncounted. Provisional results should be available within a week. Both candidates have said they would wait for the official results and accept the outcome.
Guinea Local
Jeune Afrique reports that ten months after Guinea’s local elections in February 2018, the newly elected officials have still not all taken up their offices. Officials blame election disputes for the delay.
Somalia South West State
Voice of America reports: “Lawmakers in Somalia’s South West region elected a new president Wednesday, with a former leader of militant group al-Shabab kept off the ballot despite angry protests last week from supporters. Officials confirmed to VOA that Somalia’s former state minister for trade, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed, also known as Lafta Gareen, is the region’s new leader. Mohamed won 101 out of 147 votes from regional lawmakers, defeating three other candidates.” Meanwhile, an explosion in Mogadishu on December 22 killed 30 people.
Togo
Al Jazeera reports: “At least four people have been killed during protests in the capital Lome and other cities during weeks of anti-government protests, but election day was calm under a heavy military presence. The ruling Union for the Republic party is expected to maintain its parliamentary majority.”
The opposition and religious leaders had called for a boycott, and it seems they got their wish. Turnout was low.
Burundi
A small win for human rights – feminist activist Arielle Sabushimike, who had been detained earlier this month, has been released, following a Twitter campaign with hashtag #FreeArielleSabushimike. However, other Burundi activists remain detained or disappeared. As Freedom House notes: “A June [2017] report published jointly by the International Federation for Human Rights and Burundian human rights groups said that over the two years of the conflict, at least 1,200 people had been killed, 400 to 900 had been forcibly disappeared, at least several hundred had been tortured, and more than 10,000 had been detained arbitrarily.”
https://twitter.com/FreeArielle1/status/1076172088506023936
In a surprise move, on December 21, President Pierre Nkurunziza announced that Burundi’s capital would move from Bujumbura, a city of over one million people on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, to the sleepy town of Gitega in the country’s interior. The opposition says the move amounts to a symbolic reinstatement of the monarchy as Gitega used to be the seat of the royal family. Bujumbura is an opposition stronghold.
Cameroon
Cameroon continues its crackdown on journalists amid conflict in the English-speaking regions that has caused tens of thousands to seek refuge in Nigeria. Cameroon’s post-election political crisis remains ongoing.
Comoros
The Economist examines “Intrigue in the world’s most coup-prone island paradise.” President Azali Assoumani aspires to autocracy. Last week, another 20 opposition figures were sentenced to long prison terms and hard labor, including former vice president Jaffar Ahmed Said Hassani. News24 reports: “Hassani fell out of favour with the government in June for his open criticism of Azali’s constitutional reforms, which were overwhelmingly passed during July’s controversial referendum. The reforms allow Assoumani run for another term in office and overturn a five-year rotation of power between Comoros’ three main islands to ensure political balance in this coup-prone country.”
Eritrea
Abraham T. Zere, exiled executive director of PEN Eritrea, writes: “[Eritrea’s president-for-life Isaias Afwerki] has long overseen a closed political system, but this year, its secrecy has reached new heights. While the president used to maintain close relations with his subordinates as a way of control, he is now making momentous decisions almost single-handedly. He is governing without informing, let alone consulting, his colleagues.”
Upcoming Elections
Democratic Republic of the Congo General – December 30, 2018
Long-delayed elections to replace Joseph Kabila, who ruled the DRC for nearly two decades, have once again been postponed by a week to December 30 after a fire in Kinshasa destroyed 80 percent of the capital’s stock of voting machines. The move has further aggravated tensions and sparked protests.
The opposition believes that the delays are a ploy for the Kabila government to remain in power. The election commission said the delay was due to an eruption of violence resulting in 100 deaths, not enough ballot papers, and an ebola outbreak. Despite obvious challenges in organizing the polls, the election commission refused offers of international assistance.
Voice of America gathers the views of various stakeholders.
The Economist notes: “[Congo’s] 80m people are getting a little impatient. Although the country has vast mineral wealth, more than 70% of its people survive on less than $1.90 a day. For more than five decades it has been misruled by a string of kleptocrats, Mr Kabila junior included. More than 100 rebel militias operate around the country, and a jihadist group is terrorising an area in the east where an Ebola outbreak is also raging.”
Nigeria – February 16, 2019
John Campbell at the Council on Foreign Relations writes that the international community must pay attention to the Nigerian military’s conduct, which has in recent months included killing peaceful protesters.
Senegal – February 24, 2019
Al Jazeera reports on the Senegalese opposition’s creative campaign tactics.
Guinea-Bissau Legislative – March 10, 2019
Guinea-Bissau’s president has announced that legislative elections will take place on March 10, 2019 after several delays and much international pressure. The elections have already been delayed multiple times, and both the UN and ECOWAS wanted them held by the end of January. At a December 21 meeting, UN diplomats emphasized the importance of holding the elections and resolving Guinea-Bissau’s political crisis.
Recent Elections
Madagascar Presidential Runoff
Both candidates for Madagascar’s presidency have declared victory, even though many ballots remain uncounted. Provisional results should be available within a week. Both candidates have said they would wait for the official results and accept the outcome.
Guinea Local
Jeune Afrique reports that ten months after Guinea’s local elections in February 2018, the newly elected officials have still not all taken up their offices. Officials blame election disputes for the delay.
Somalia South West State
Voice of America reports: “Lawmakers in Somalia’s South West region elected a new president Wednesday, with a former leader of militant group al-Shabab kept off the ballot despite angry protests last week from supporters. Officials confirmed to VOA that Somalia’s former state minister for trade, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed, also known as Lafta Gareen, is the region’s new leader. Mohamed won 101 out of 147 votes from regional lawmakers, defeating three other candidates.” Meanwhile, an explosion in Mogadishu on December 22 killed 30 people.
Togo
Al Jazeera reports: “At least four people have been killed during protests in the capital Lome and other cities during weeks of anti-government protests, but election day was calm under a heavy military presence. The ruling Union for the Republic party is expected to maintain its parliamentary majority.”
The opposition and religious leaders had called for a boycott, and it seems they got their wish. Turnout was low. Opposition spokesperson Farida Bemba Nabourema tweeted:
Other Regional News and Views
Burundi
A small win for human rights – feminist activist Arielle Sabushimike, who had been detained earlier this month, has been released, following a Twitter campaign with hashtag #FreeArielleSabushimike. However, other Burundi activists remain detained or disappeared. As Freedom House notes: “A June [2017] report published jointly by the International Federation for Human Rights and Burundian human rights groups said that over the two years of the conflict, at least 1,200 people had been killed, 400 to 900 had been forcibly disappeared, at least several hundred had been tortured, and more than 10,000 had been detained arbitrarily.”
In a surprise move, on December 21, President Pierre Nkurunziza announced that Burundi’s capital would move from Bujumbura, a city of over one million people on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, to the sleepy town of Gitega in the country’s interior. The opposition says the move amounts to a symbolic reinstatement of the monarchy as Gitega used to be the seat of the royal family. Bujumbura is an opposition stronghold.
Some are not impressed:
Cameroon
Cameroon continues its crackdown on journalists amid conflict in the English-speaking regions that has caused tens of thousands to seek refuge in Nigeria. Cameroon’s post-election political crisis remains ongoing.
Comoros
The Economist examines “Intrigue in the world’s most coup-prone island paradise.” President Azali Assoumani aspires to autocracy. Last week, another 20 opposition figures were sentenced to long prison terms and hard labor, including former vice president Jaffar Ahmed Said Hassani. News24 reports: “Hassani fell out of favour with the government in June for his open criticism of Azali’s constitutional reforms, which were overwhelmingly passed during July’s controversial referendum. The reforms allow Assoumani run for another term in office and overturn a five-year rotation of power between Comoros’ three main islands to ensure political balance in this coup-prone country.”
Eritrea
Abraham T. Zere, exiled executive director of PEN Eritrea, writes: “[Eritrea’s president-for-life Isaias Afwerki] has long overseen a closed political system, but this year, its secrecy has reached new heights. While the president used to maintain close relations with his subordinates as a way of control, he is now making momentous decisions almost single-handedly. He is governing without informing, let alone consulting, his colleagues.”
Photo credit: MONUSCO/Sylvain Liechti
21votes does not necessarily endorse all of the views in all of the linked articles or publications.
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Category: This Week Tags: Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, DRC, Eritrea, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Togo