February 15, 2021
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Africa, usually posted on Mondays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Somalia’s Port of Mogadishu. Photo credit: Wikimedia/TSTG PERRY HEIMER (public domain)
Upcoming Africa Elections
Somalia Indirect Presidential Election: Set for February 8, 2021 but postponed
Somalia was supposed to hold an indirect presidential election on February 8, 2021, following indirect parliamentary elections in December 2020. However, the elections have been delayed, and the current president’s term has expired, leaving Somalia in a political and constitutional crisis. More
Matt Bryden and Theodore Murphy, European Council on Foreign Relations (February 16, 2021): Somalia’s election impasse: A crisis of state building
Lynsey Chutel, Foreign Policy (February 10, 2021): Will Somalia’s Missed Election Lead to Chaos?
Mohamed Sheikh Nor, The Africa Report (February 4, 2021): Somalia’s delayed presidential elections: Top 7 issues to follow
Central African Republic Legislative Runoffs: March 14, 2021
The Central African Republic (CAR) held presidential and partial legislative elections on December 27, 2020 in the context of a growing humanitarian crisis and crisis of governance. The disqualification of a prominent presidential candidate led to increased rebel activity, which disrupted voting in some areas, so consequently, those constituencies will hold the first round of their legislative elections on March 14, 2021. In addition, some of the constituencies that did vote on December 27 will hold runoff elections for their legislators.
The country has had multiparty elections since 1993, but a series of coups and instability have prevented democracy from flourishing. Meanwhile, Russia is heavily involved in the country’s politics. More
BBC (February 16, 2021): Central African Republic: War crimes trial of two ex-militia leaders starts
Human Rights Watch (February 7, 2021): Central African Republic: First Anti-Balaka Trial at ICC: Milestone for Justice for Victims of Conflict Since 2012
Al Jazeera (February 13, 2021): CAR to hold runoff parliamentary elections in March
Ruth Maclean, New York Times (February 12, 2021): Refugees Flee Central African Republic, a Crisis the World Neglects
Samuel Ramani, RUSI (February 12, 2021): Russia’s Strategy in the Central African Republic
Republic of the Congo Presidential Election: March 20, 2021
The Republic of the Congo (sometimes called Congo-Brazzaville) is due to hold a presidential election on March 20, 2021. Denis Sassou Nguesso been president almost continuously since 1979, and rules with an iron fist. Elections have not been free or fair. More
Catholic News Service (February 5, 2021): Bishops in Republic of Congo worried presidential election won’t be fair
AFP (January 31, 2021): Main opposition to boycott Congo elections
Benin Presidential Election: April 11, 2021
Benin is due to hold a presidential election in March 2021. Incumbent Patrice Talon is running run for a second term, and he has largely kept the opposition off the ballot. Previously a model democracy in the region, Benin has seen democratic decline since Talon’s election in 2016. More
AFP (February 13, 2021): Benin President Patrice Talon to face two rivals in April election
Khalid Al Mouahidi, Medafrica Times (February 11, 2021): Benin: UN envoy Ibn Chambas calls for dialogue before the presidential elections
Djibouti Presidential Election: April 2021
Djibouti is due to hold a presidential election in April 2021. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, who has been president since 1999, will run for a fifth term. The main opposition parties plan to boycott, but have been holding protests. More
RFI (February 12, 2021): Djibouti’s veteran leader in Paris for talks on France’s military base
Chad Presidential Election: April 11, 2020 and Parliamentary and Local Elections: October 24, 2021
Chad plans to hold a presidential election on April 11, 2021 and long-delayed long-delayed parliamentary elections on October 24, 2021 and local elections in April 2022. Originally due in 2015, the legislative elections have been delayed multiple times.
President Idriss Déby seized power in a rebellion in 1990, and although the country holds elections, there has never been a change in power by a free or fair vote. More
Martina Schwikowski, DW (February 11, 2021): Chad: Tensions rise over Deby’s presidential run
AFP (February 9, 2021): Chad opposition parties name single candidate for April 11 poll
Amnesty International (February 9, 2021): Chad: Opposition members and human rights activists banned from freely protesting ahead of election
Somaliland Parliamentary and Local Elections: May 2021 (tentative)
Somaliland is long overdue to hold parliamentary and local elections. Somaliland has de facto but not internationally-recognized independence from Somalia, and has a much more developed democracy, with direct elections. More
Mark Buckton, Taiwan Times (February 12, 2021): Somaliland Elections To Take Place May 31st, 2021
Ethiopia General Elections: June 5, 2021
Ethiopia has scheduled general elections for June 5, 2021, after several postponements. These elections are taking place in the context of the growing crisis in Tigray region in the north that has exploded into violent conflict. More
The Africa Report (February 15, 2021): Ethiopia: Will Tigray reach a conclusion in 2021?
Zecharias Zelalem, Al Jazeera (February 13, 2021): Ethiopia: Concern grows over health of jailed political leaders
Michelle Gavin, Council on Foreign Relations (February 10, 2021): The Conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region: What to Know
Simon Marks and Declan Walsh, New York Times (January 22, 2021): On ‘Rooftop of Africa,’ Ethiopia’s Troops Hunt Fugitive Former Rulers
Samuel Gebre Bloomberg (January 18, 2021): Ethiopia Pulls Tigray Party License Ahead of June Elections
Mauritius Municipal Elections: June 2021 (due)
Mauritius is due to hold municipal elections in June 2021. The country is generally considered a free democracy that has seen multiple peaceful transitions of power following competitive elections, but politics are dominated by a handful of powerful families. However, recent protests have raised the political temperature. More
Kamlesh Bhuckory, Bloomberg (February 13, 2021): Thousands Rally in Mauritius, Calling on Government to Step Down
Nishan Degnarain, Forbes (January 11, 2021): Mauritius In Crisis As Militarized Police Deployed Against Peaceful Protestors
São Tomé and Príncipe Presidential Election: July 2021 (due)
São Tomé and Príncipe is due to hold a presidential election in July 2021. Since the end of Marxist one-party rule in 1991, São Tomé and Príncipe has held regular elections with peaceful transfers of power, and is generally considered a free democracy. More
Óscar Medeiros, VOA (February 15, 2021 – in Portuguese): Sao Tome and Principe: Enactment of electoral law divides politicians
South Africa Local Elections: Due between August 3 and November 3, 2021
South Africa is due to hold local elections between August 3 and November 3, 2021. Voters will elect councils for all municipalities in each of the country’s nine provinces. More
Kgothatso Madisa, Times Live (February 11, 2021): 2021 local government elections will go ahead as planned: Cyril Ramaphosa
Gambia Presidential Election: December 4, 2021
In December 2016, The Gambia began a remarkable transition to democracy. Citizens removed dictator Yahya Jammeh – who had come to power in a coup and ruled for 22 years – peacefully, via the ballot box, in a surprising result. Opposition candidate Adama Barrow won the presidency with the backing of a coalition of seven opposition parties. However, the process of establishing democracy and recovering from Jammeh’s brutal dictatorship has not been easy.
Although Barrow had initially pledged to serve only one term, he plans to run for re-election, which has sparked controversy and protests. More
Marième Soumaré, The Africa Report (February 3, 2021): Gambia: Adama Barrow on his way to a second term in office
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: TBD, following coup
Mali had a coup in August 2020. Soldiers removed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, dissolved parliament (which had just been elected in April, in elections marred by fraud and intimidation) and established a transitional government, promising elections.
Patrick McAllister, Global Risk Insights (February 13, 2021): Mali’s “Fresh Start” is Becoming a Pipe Dream as Colonel Malick Diaw is Elected Head of Interim Legislature
Regional
Fredline M’Cormack-Hale and Mavis Zupork Dome, Washington Post (February 12, 2021): Africans want elections, but fewer believe they work
Jeffrey Smith and Todd Moss, World Politics Review (February 12, 2021): The U.S. Can Still Promote Democracy in Africa
Past Africa Elections
Uganda General Elections: January 14, 2021
Uganda held presidential and legislative elections on January 14, 2021. President Yoweri Museveni has held power since 1986, but this time faced possibly his biggest challenge yet in the form of 37-year-old pop star Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, better known as Bobi Wine. Following the elections, the government launched a brutal crackdown on the opposition. More
Rodney Muhumuza, AP (February 15, 2021): Allegations of Abductions Grip Uganda After Tense Elections
Alice McCool, CNN (February 8, 2021): Alleging her partner was abducted and tortured, Ugandan activist Stella Nyanzi flees to Kenya
Burkina Faso Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: November 22, 2020
Burkina Faso held presidential and parliamentary elections on November 22, 2020, in the context of a growing security crisis as well as political uncertainty as the country’s democrats seek to consolidate the young, fragile democracy. President Roch Marc Christian Kabore won re-election. More
Ramesh Rajasingham, DW (February 15, 2021): Opinion: Crisis-crippled Burkina Faso needs urgent help
Sam Mednick, AP (February 12, 2021): UN: Burkina Faso on brink of protracted humanitarian crisis
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content. That is to say, their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
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Africa This Week: February 15, 2021
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Last Updated: February 23, 2021 by 21votes
February 15, 2021
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Africa, usually posted on Mondays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Somalia’s Port of Mogadishu. Photo credit: Wikimedia/TSTG PERRY HEIMER (public domain)
Upcoming Africa Elections
Somalia Indirect Presidential Election: Set for February 8, 2021 but postponed
Somalia was supposed to hold an indirect presidential election on February 8, 2021, following indirect parliamentary elections in December 2020. However, the elections have been delayed, and the current president’s term has expired, leaving Somalia in a political and constitutional crisis. More
Matt Bryden and Theodore Murphy, European Council on Foreign Relations (February 16, 2021): Somalia’s election impasse: A crisis of state building
Lynsey Chutel, Foreign Policy (February 10, 2021): Will Somalia’s Missed Election Lead to Chaos?
Mohamed Sheikh Nor, The Africa Report (February 4, 2021): Somalia’s delayed presidential elections: Top 7 issues to follow
Central African Republic Legislative Runoffs: March 14, 2021
The Central African Republic (CAR) held presidential and partial legislative elections on December 27, 2020 in the context of a growing humanitarian crisis and crisis of governance. The disqualification of a prominent presidential candidate led to increased rebel activity, which disrupted voting in some areas, so consequently, those constituencies will hold the first round of their legislative elections on March 14, 2021. In addition, some of the constituencies that did vote on December 27 will hold runoff elections for their legislators.
The country has had multiparty elections since 1993, but a series of coups and instability have prevented democracy from flourishing. Meanwhile, Russia is heavily involved in the country’s politics. More
BBC (February 16, 2021): Central African Republic: War crimes trial of two ex-militia leaders starts
Human Rights Watch (February 7, 2021): Central African Republic: First Anti-Balaka Trial at ICC: Milestone for Justice for Victims of Conflict Since 2012
Al Jazeera (February 13, 2021): CAR to hold runoff parliamentary elections in March
Ruth Maclean, New York Times (February 12, 2021): Refugees Flee Central African Republic, a Crisis the World Neglects
Samuel Ramani, RUSI (February 12, 2021): Russia’s Strategy in the Central African Republic
Republic of the Congo Presidential Election: March 20, 2021
The Republic of the Congo (sometimes called Congo-Brazzaville) is due to hold a presidential election on March 20, 2021. Denis Sassou Nguesso been president almost continuously since 1979, and rules with an iron fist. Elections have not been free or fair. More
Catholic News Service (February 5, 2021): Bishops in Republic of Congo worried presidential election won’t be fair
AFP (January 31, 2021): Main opposition to boycott Congo elections
Benin Presidential Election: April 11, 2021
Benin is due to hold a presidential election in March 2021. Incumbent Patrice Talon is running run for a second term, and he has largely kept the opposition off the ballot. Previously a model democracy in the region, Benin has seen democratic decline since Talon’s election in 2016. More
AFP (February 13, 2021): Benin President Patrice Talon to face two rivals in April election
Khalid Al Mouahidi, Medafrica Times (February 11, 2021): Benin: UN envoy Ibn Chambas calls for dialogue before the presidential elections
Djibouti Presidential Election: April 2021
Djibouti is due to hold a presidential election in April 2021. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, who has been president since 1999, will run for a fifth term. The main opposition parties plan to boycott, but have been holding protests. More
RFI (February 12, 2021): Djibouti’s veteran leader in Paris for talks on France’s military base
Chad Presidential Election: April 11, 2020 and Parliamentary and Local Elections: October 24, 2021
Chad plans to hold a presidential election on April 11, 2021 and long-delayed long-delayed parliamentary elections on October 24, 2021 and local elections in April 2022. Originally due in 2015, the legislative elections have been delayed multiple times.
President Idriss Déby seized power in a rebellion in 1990, and although the country holds elections, there has never been a change in power by a free or fair vote. More
Martina Schwikowski, DW (February 11, 2021): Chad: Tensions rise over Deby’s presidential run
AFP (February 9, 2021): Chad opposition parties name single candidate for April 11 poll
Amnesty International (February 9, 2021): Chad: Opposition members and human rights activists banned from freely protesting ahead of election
Somaliland Parliamentary and Local Elections: May 2021 (tentative)
Somaliland is long overdue to hold parliamentary and local elections. Somaliland has de facto but not internationally-recognized independence from Somalia, and has a much more developed democracy, with direct elections. More
Mark Buckton, Taiwan Times (February 12, 2021): Somaliland Elections To Take Place May 31st, 2021
Ethiopia General Elections: June 5, 2021
Ethiopia has scheduled general elections for June 5, 2021, after several postponements. These elections are taking place in the context of the growing crisis in Tigray region in the north that has exploded into violent conflict. More
The Africa Report (February 15, 2021): Ethiopia: Will Tigray reach a conclusion in 2021?
Zecharias Zelalem, Al Jazeera (February 13, 2021): Ethiopia: Concern grows over health of jailed political leaders
Michelle Gavin, Council on Foreign Relations (February 10, 2021): The Conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region: What to Know
Simon Marks and Declan Walsh, New York Times (January 22, 2021): On ‘Rooftop of Africa,’ Ethiopia’s Troops Hunt Fugitive Former Rulers
Samuel Gebre Bloomberg (January 18, 2021): Ethiopia Pulls Tigray Party License Ahead of June Elections
Mauritius Municipal Elections: June 2021 (due)
Mauritius is due to hold municipal elections in June 2021. The country is generally considered a free democracy that has seen multiple peaceful transitions of power following competitive elections, but politics are dominated by a handful of powerful families. However, recent protests have raised the political temperature. More
Kamlesh Bhuckory, Bloomberg (February 13, 2021): Thousands Rally in Mauritius, Calling on Government to Step Down
Nishan Degnarain, Forbes (January 11, 2021): Mauritius In Crisis As Militarized Police Deployed Against Peaceful Protestors
São Tomé and Príncipe Presidential Election: July 2021 (due)
São Tomé and Príncipe is due to hold a presidential election in July 2021. Since the end of Marxist one-party rule in 1991, São Tomé and Príncipe has held regular elections with peaceful transfers of power, and is generally considered a free democracy. More
Óscar Medeiros, VOA (February 15, 2021 – in Portuguese): Sao Tome and Principe: Enactment of electoral law divides politicians
South Africa Local Elections: Due between August 3 and November 3, 2021
South Africa is due to hold local elections between August 3 and November 3, 2021. Voters will elect councils for all municipalities in each of the country’s nine provinces. More
Kgothatso Madisa, Times Live (February 11, 2021): 2021 local government elections will go ahead as planned: Cyril Ramaphosa
Gambia Presidential Election: December 4, 2021
In December 2016, The Gambia began a remarkable transition to democracy. Citizens removed dictator Yahya Jammeh – who had come to power in a coup and ruled for 22 years – peacefully, via the ballot box, in a surprising result. Opposition candidate Adama Barrow won the presidency with the backing of a coalition of seven opposition parties. However, the process of establishing democracy and recovering from Jammeh’s brutal dictatorship has not been easy.
Although Barrow had initially pledged to serve only one term, he plans to run for re-election, which has sparked controversy and protests. More
Marième Soumaré, The Africa Report (February 3, 2021): Gambia: Adama Barrow on his way to a second term in office
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: TBD, following coup
Mali had a coup in August 2020. Soldiers removed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, dissolved parliament (which had just been elected in April, in elections marred by fraud and intimidation) and established a transitional government, promising elections.
Patrick McAllister, Global Risk Insights (February 13, 2021): Mali’s “Fresh Start” is Becoming a Pipe Dream as Colonel Malick Diaw is Elected Head of Interim Legislature
Regional
Fredline M’Cormack-Hale and Mavis Zupork Dome, Washington Post (February 12, 2021): Africans want elections, but fewer believe they work
Jeffrey Smith and Todd Moss, World Politics Review (February 12, 2021): The U.S. Can Still Promote Democracy in Africa
Past Africa Elections
Uganda General Elections: January 14, 2021
Uganda held presidential and legislative elections on January 14, 2021. President Yoweri Museveni has held power since 1986, but this time faced possibly his biggest challenge yet in the form of 37-year-old pop star Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, better known as Bobi Wine. Following the elections, the government launched a brutal crackdown on the opposition. More
Rodney Muhumuza, AP (February 15, 2021): Allegations of Abductions Grip Uganda After Tense Elections
Alice McCool, CNN (February 8, 2021): Alleging her partner was abducted and tortured, Ugandan activist Stella Nyanzi flees to Kenya
Burkina Faso Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: November 22, 2020
Burkina Faso held presidential and parliamentary elections on November 22, 2020, in the context of a growing security crisis as well as political uncertainty as the country’s democrats seek to consolidate the young, fragile democracy. President Roch Marc Christian Kabore won re-election. More
Ramesh Rajasingham, DW (February 15, 2021): Opinion: Crisis-crippled Burkina Faso needs urgent help
Sam Mednick, AP (February 12, 2021): UN: Burkina Faso on brink of protracted humanitarian crisis
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content. That is to say, their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
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Category: Uncategorized Tags: Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, Gambia, Mali, Mauritius, Republic of the Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe, Somalia, Somaliland, South Africa, Uganda