September 27, 2021
A weekly review 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.
Sankore Madrasah, an ancient center of learning in Timbuktu, Mali. Mali’s political future hangs in the balance as elections due after two coups could be postponed and Russian mercenaries could descend on the country. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Anne and David (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Upcoming Africa Elections
Ethiopia Partial Elections: September 30, 2021
Ethiopia held general elections on June 21, 2021, after several postponements. These elections took place in the context of increasing ethnic violence that has reached crisis levels. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, previously a reformer (he even won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2019) but most recently an authoritarian, won in a landslide. Polling couldn’t happen in several areas due to the ongoing conflict, so make-up votes are due to take place this fall. Nonetheless, Abiy has enough seats to form a new government regardless of the results of the September elections.
The Reporter Ethiopia (September 25, 2021): Learning from shortcomings of upcoming elections
Leah Abraham, African Arguments (September 24, 2021): The Rise and Rise of Fascism in Ethiopia
Sebastien Roblin, National Interest (September 23, 2021): How Chinese Ballistic Missiles and Iranian Drones Popped Up In Ethiopia’s Civil War in Tigray
Bileh Jelan, Addis Stndard (September 21, 2021): Breaking: More opposition parties pull out of upcoming elections in Somali region
Somalia, Puntland Direct Local Elections: October 25, 2021 and Indirect Presidential Election: February 8, 2022 (tentative – preceded by indirect legislative elections)
Somalia does not hold direct elections, but rather holds indirect elections in a clan-based system. Currently, an indirect presidential election is planned for October 10, delayed from February 8, 2021. The term of President Mohamed “Farmaajo” has expired, leaving Somalia in a political and constitutional crisis. In April 2021, Farmaajo sought to extend his term for two years, but parliament voted to reject the extension.
While the United States and the EU threatened sanctions, some analysts believed that the delay could pave the way for direct elections. However, critics dismiss this idea as a ruse to justify Farmaajo’s extension of his term. The parties reached a deal to hold the elections on October 10, 2021, but this has been pushed to February 8, 2022. Additional delays are possible.
Meanwhile, the self-declared autonomous state of Puntland plans to hold its first-ever direct local elections on October 25. More
Horn Diplomat (September 27, 2021): Somalia’s international partners visit Puntland for Discussions on Local and Federal Elections
BBC (September 26, 2021): Somalia: Seven killed in suicide attack near presidential palace
Miriam Berger, Washington Post (September 23, 2021): For three decades, no films were publicly screened in Somalia. Until now.
Omar S. Mahmood and Abdihakim Ainte, Foreign Policy (September 22, 2021): Could Somalia Be the Next Afghanistan? A similar rapid collapse of state institutions awaits if Somali elites and Western governments don’t alter their approach.
South Africa Local Elections: October 27, 2021
South Africa will hold local elections on October 27, 2021, although some have called for delays due to COVID-19. Voters will elect councils for all municipalities in each of the country’s nine provinces. These are taking place in the context of unrest following the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma for corruption. More
Gersende Rambourg and Susan Njanji, AFP (September 27, 2021): Local vote to challenge dominance of South Africa’s ANC
Gambia Presidential Election: December 4, 2021
Gambia is due to hold its first presidential election since it began its remarkable transition to democracy in 2016, when 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 election 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.
In a shock move, Barrow announced an alliance with Jammeh ahead of December’s election. More
Abe Daramy, BBC (September 25, 2021): Gambia’s Jammeh pact bombshell: Treachery or reconciliation?
Senegal Local Elections: January 31, 2022
Senegal has set local elections – originally due in June 2019 but delayed several times – for January 31, 2022. Meanwhile, legislative elections are due in July 2022. More
Mawunyo Hermann Boko, Jeune Afrique (September 23, 2021 – in French): Senegal: between young people and politicians, an insurmountable gap
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 27, 2022 (following two coups)
Mali has set presidential and legislative elections for February 27, 2022, following the August 2020 coup. In the coup, 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. Before that, there will be a constitutional referendum on October 31, 2021 and local and regional elections on December 26.
On May 25, Mali had another coup, but leaders have stated that the elections will remain on the calendar for 2022. However, the situation remains fluid.
AFP (September 26, 2021): Mali elections could be postponed, prime minister tells AFP
Joseph Siegle and Daniel Eizenga, Africa Center for Strategic Studies (September 23, 2021): Russia’s Wagner Play Undermines the Transition in Mali
Chris Olaoluwa Ogunmodede, World Politics Review (September 23, 2021): The Wagner Group Is the Last Thing Mali Needs
Corinne Dufka, Human Rights Watch (September 22, 2021): Another Political Detention in Mali
AFP (September 21, 2021): France’s defence minister warns Mali against hiring Russian ‘mercenary’ firm
Angola Legislative Elections: August 2022 (due) and Local Elections: Overdue, no date set
Angola, which has never held free elections, and has been ruled by the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), a former armed group, since independence in 1976, is due to hold legislative elections in August 2022. In addition, the country is overdue to hold its first-ever local elections. These elections have already been delayed multiple times (most recently in September 2020), and no date has been set. Meanwhile, COVID-19 provides an excuse for additional delays. In short, it is unclear when – or whether – the local elections will actually happen. More
Estelle Mauisson, The Africa Report (September 23, 202): Angola: The battle between Lourenço and Costa Júnior is just beginning
South Sudan Elections: December 2022 (planned)
South Sudan plans to hold elections in December 2022, the first since independence in 2011. Salva Kiir had been president of the semi-autonomous region while it was still part of Sudan, and he remained in office following independence. The legislature’s mandate expired in 2015 (it had been elected in 2010, before independence), and has been extended several times. Additional election delays are possible.
Mantsadi Sepheka, AllAfrica (September 27, 2021): South Sudan: Elections Won’t End in ‘Miraculously’ Having Democracy, South Sudan Needs a Vision
Chad Elections: By December 2022 (tentative, post-coup)
Chad held a presidential election on April 11, 2021. President Idriss Déby, seized power in a rebellion in 1990, won a sixth term. However, on April 20, he was killed by rebels.
Although the country holds elections, there has never been a change in power by a free or fair vote. Long-delayed long-delayed parliamentary elections had been set for October 24, 2021 and local elections for April 2022. Originally due in 2015, the legislative elections have been delayed multiple times. However, Deby’s death could lead to further delays – the military has said it plans to rule the country for 18 months. More
Reuters (September 25, 2021): Chad plans to double army size to deal with security challenges
Al Jazeera (September 24, 2021): Chad’s military ruler Mahamat Deby names transitional parliament: The so-called National Transitional Council ‘will act as a national assembly of transition’ ahead of elections, statement says.
Eswatini Parliamentary Elections: August 2023 (due)
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.
On June 20, 2021, a series of protests calling for democratic reform began. Protests continue.
Pariesa Young, France24 (September 27, 2021): Students walk out of classes in Eswatini’s ongoing pro-democracy movement
Democratic Republic of the Congo General Elections: December 2023 (due)
The DRC is due to hold general elections in 2023. The December 2018 presidential and legislative elections, which took place after multiple delays, were mired in controversy and dispute. The election commission declared opposition leader Félix Tshisekedi the winner of the presidential poll, but the Catholic Church, which deployed 40,000 election observers and is a highly trusted institution in the country, said that their data indicated a victory for another opposition leader, Martin Fayulu.
When Kabila’s chosen successor, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, was polling too poorly for Kabila to credibly rig the election for him, Kabila cut a deal with Tshisekedi.
The legislative elections – also highly disputed – produced a majority for Kabila’s coalition. Major opposition figures Moïse Katumbi and Jean-Pierre Bemba were barred from the polls and spent the election cycle outside the country, but both have returned.
Helen Reid, Reuters (September 14, 2021): EXCLUSIVE Congo in talks with China’s Huayou to end dispute over cobalt mine
Jevans Nyabiage, South China Morning Post (September 25, 2021): China, the US and a Twitter tit-for-tat over Congo cobalt contracts
IANS (September 24, 2021): China’s investment in Africa: Several countries cancel contracts on exploitative, unfair deals
Sudan General Elections: By 2024 (due)
Sudan plans to hold general elections by 2024, the culmination of a five-year transition to democracy that began with the July 2019 removal of dictator Omar al-Bashir following several months of protests. Al-Bashir was removed in a military coup, and a junta ruled briefly, but entered into an agreement with the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), a wide-ranging coalition of opposition groups, to transition the country to democracy. However, numerous challenges remain.
Michelle Gavin, Council on Foreign Relations (September 27, 2021): Thwarted Coup Signals Dangerous Times for Sudan’s Transition
Agencies/Times of Israel (September 26, 2021): Chief of Sudan’s ruling body pledges reforms to army following attempted coup: General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan says armed forces are committed to holding elections in 2023, ending the transitional period
Declan Walsh, New York Times (September 21, 2021): Sudan Leaders Say They Thwarted Coup Attempt by Loyalists of Former Dictator
Guinea Elections: TBD, following coup
On September 5, 2021, Guinea’s president, Alpha Condé, fell in a military coup. Guinea’s political future remains uncertain, but regional and international bodies, as well as Guinean civil society and political groups, have urged elections.
Condé was re-elected in October 2020 amid violence. He sought and won a controversial third term, and for the third time, faced off against opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo. Both candidates claimed they won, but election officials declared Condé the winner. However, Diallo challenged the results, alleging fraud and prompting street protests leading to at least 10 deaths. The government arrested a number of opposition members following the election. More
Saliou Samb, Reuters (September 27, 2021): Guinea junta bars its members from running in next elections
David Zounmenou, ISS Today (September 24, 2021): Can coups be removed from Guinea’s political culture?
Laurent Lozano and Mouctar Bah, AFP (September 24, 2021): In Guinea opposition bastion, hopes for a brighter future
The Africa Report (September 22, 2021): Guinea: Can Doumbouya lead the country in a peaceful transition?
Ovigwe Eguegu, The Diplomat (September 21, 2021): Does Guinea’s Coup Matter to China?
Past Africa Elections
Zambia General Elections: August 12, 2021
Zambia held August 12, 2021 following a hotly-contested campaign between President Edgar Lungu and Hakainde Hichilema, the main opposition leader, who narrowly lost to Lungu in 2016. Ultimately, Hichilema won the presidential election in a landslide, restoring hope in Zambia’s democracy.
Zambia used to be a model democracy in the region, with regular, competitive elections and a vibrant civil society. However, under Edgar Lungu, elected in 2015 to complete the term of Michael Sata (who died in office), Zambia began to regress toward authoritarianism. The 2016 elections were marred by political violence and allegations of vote-rigging but ultimately judged credible. Similarly, this year, despite concerns about violence and the larger pre-election environment – as well as a social media shutdown on election day – observers judged the polls credible. Lungu initially took a page from Donald Trump’s playbook and alleged fraud, but ultimately conceded defeat. Hichilema’s liberal United Party for National Development (UPND) also won a majority in the parliamentary election.
Larry Madowo, CNN (September 25, 2021): Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema ran for president five times and lost. Now he’s basking in glow of historic win
Somaliland Parliamentary and Local Elections: May 31, 2021
Somaliland held its long-overdue parliamentary and local elections on May 31, 2021. The two main opposition parties, Waddani and UCID, together won more seats in parliament than the governing Kulmiye party. Waddani and UCID will team up to choose a parliament speaker and on local councils (where they also won). Somaliland is a presidential system, so there’s no PM. President Muse Bihi Abdi from Kulmiye remains head of state. But it is significant for democracy that the opposition won the “midterms.”
Somaliland has de facto but not internationally-recognized independence from Somalia, and has a much more developed democracy, with direct elections. More
Andres Schipani, Financial Times (September 27, 2021): Somaliland battles for recognition after 30 years’ fending for itself: Despite stable elections and a functional state, self-declared nation struggles to win global acceptance
Abdulkadir Khalif, The East African (September 24, 2021): Somalia: Somaliland Protests Against Election of Representatives to Somalia Senate
Benin Presidential Election: April 11, 2021
Benin held a presidential election on April 11, 2021. Incumbent Patrice Talon won a second term after largely keeping the opposition off the ballot. Previously a model democracy in the region, Benin has seen democratic decline since Talon’s election in 2016. More
Africanews/AFP (September 22, 2021): Benin President meets rival and predecessor Boni Yayi
Central African Republic Partial Legislative Elections and Runoffs: March 14, 2021
The Central African Republic (CAR) held presidential and partial legislative elections on December 27, 2020 in the midst of a worsening security situation. Rebels disrupted voting in some areas, so consequently, those constituencies held the first round of their legislative elections on March 14, 2021. In addition, some of the constituencies that did vote on December 27 held runoff elections for their legislators.
These elections took place in the context of a humanitarian crisis and a crisis of governance. Sectarian clashes have been taking place since 2013. Moreover, Russia has ramped up its political and military involvement in exchange for mining rights. More
Jack Losh, BBC (September 22, 2021): Central African Republic war: No-go zones and Russian meddling
Côte d’Ivoire Parliamentary Elections: March 6, 2021 and Presidential Election: October 31, 2020
Côte d’Ivoire just completed a major election cycle that began in turbulent fashion when incumbent president Alasanne Ouattara sought and won a controversial third term. The opposition boycotted the presidential election. Protests followed, as well as arrests of opposition members.
However, during the March parliamentary elections, the situation calmed down a bit. Following discussions and the release of some opposition figures, the opposition participated in the legislative elections.
Former president Laurent Gbagbo cast a long shadow over the recent election cycle. He had been tried by the International Criminal Court following violence surrounding his refusal to accept his loss of the 2010 election. Gbagbo was ultimately acquitted, but an appeal against the acquittal kept him in Belgium until this year. He has now returned home. More
By Takudzwa Hillary Chiwanza, The African Exponent (September 26, 2021): Here is How Didier Drogba’s Influence Ended Civil War In Ivory Coast: Didier Drogba is a name that resonates with millions of football fans across the world
Tanzania General Elections: October 25, 2020
Tanzania held presidential and legislative elections on October 25, 2020 in the context of a crackdown on the opposition and growing authoritarianism. President John Magufuli, whose Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has been in power since 1961, won a second term, but the opposition said the elections were neither free nor fair. Opposition figures have been arrested, assaulted, and murdered.
However, in March 2021, Magufuli died of COVID-19, and then-vice president Samia Suluhu Hassan became the country’s first female president. Some have hoped that she would enact reforms geared toward restoring democracy. However, arrests of opposition figures continue. More
Abdul Halim, The Africa Report (September 22, 2021): Tanzania: ‘Freeman Mbowe’s case has been unfair since day one’ says leading human rights activist
Hadija Jumanne and James Magai, The Citizen Tanzania (September 21, 2021): Witness ‘stunned’ to hear about Mbowe’s charges
Cameroon Municipal, Legislative, and Regional Elections: February 9, 2020 (delayed from October 2019)
Cameroon holds elections, but President Paul Biya, at age 85 the oldest ruler in Africa, has been in power since 1982, most recently winning re-election in 2018. Elections in the country, including the most recent, have been marred by accusations of ballot-stuffing and intimidation of the opposition. The opposition claims Maurice Kamto actually won the election, and opposition supports have staged a number of protests, which the government answered with a harsh crackdown and hundreds of arrests, including the arrest of Kamto himself.
Cameroon is in the midst of several other crises. Anglophone separatists seek to form a new country called Ambazonia. The government has accused them of terrorism. The crisis is currently deadlocked, with neither side willing to make concessions, leaving half a million people displaced.
Franck Foute, The Africa Report (September 27, 2021): Cameroon: What will President Paul Biya’s regime do with its opponents?
Human Rights Watch (September 22, 2021): Cameroon: Repression Marks Crackdown Anniversary
Mozambique Presidential, Legislative, and Provincial Elections: October 15, 2019
Mozambique held elections in October 2019 amid several crises, including political violence, natural disasters, and an Islamist insurgency.
Baz Ratner and Shafiek Tassiem, Reuters (September 25, 2021): Mozambicans return to uncertain future after Islamists pushed back
Sérgio Chichava and Henry Tugendhat, War on the Rocks (September 23, 2021): Al-Shabaab and Chinese trade practices in Mozambique
Rwanda Local Elections: 2021 (due – date not set)
Rwanda is due to hold local elections in 2021. Since the 1994 genocide, Rwanda has been stable but authoritarian. Opposition figures are frequently imprisoned and sometimes killed or disappeared.
Most recently, Paul Rusesabagina, who saved many lives during the genocide and subsequently was depicted in the film Hotel Rwanda, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on charges that critics decried as politically motivated.
The Economist (September 27, 2021): How does Paul Kagame, Rwanda’s president, get away with it? Even as evidence of the brutality and thuggishness of his rule mounts up, the West continues to support him
Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times (September 20, 2021): From Hero of ‘Hotel Rwanda,’ to Dissident, to 25-Year Prison Sentence: The trial of Paul Rusesabagina, whose story was portrayed in the Oscar-nominated movie, was denounced by human rights advocates as a “show trial” intended to silence critics of Rwanda’s president.
Human Rights Watch (September 27, 2021): Rwanda: Round Ups-Linked to Commonwealth Meeting
Regional Analysis
Joseph Siegle, Africa Center for Strategic Studies (September 24, 2021): Russia in Africa: Undermining Democracy through Elite Capture
Chrispin Mwakideu, DW (September 24, 2021): UN General Assembly: Africa’s leaders push for unity
Tamara White, Brookings Institution (September 23, 2021): Figure of the week: Internet freedom in sub-Saharan Africa declines
Karoli Ssemogerere, Daily Monitor Uganda (September 23, 2021): How presidential transitions will map African destiny
Africa Elections Coming Up in 2021 and 2022
Ethiopia Partial Elections: September 30, 2021 (Following delays)
Cabo Verde Presidential Election: October 17, 2021
Somalia, Direct Local Elections in Puntland: October 25, 2021
South Africa Local Elections: October 27, 2021
Nigeria, Anambra State Gubernatorial Election: November 6, 2021
Gambia Presidential Election: December 4, 2021
Angola Local Elections: Overdue, might possibly happen in 2021
Senegal Local Elections: January 23, 2021
Somalia Indirect Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 8, 2022 (Tentative, following numerous delays – additional delays possible)
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 27, 2022 (following coup – delays possible)
Gambia Parliamentary Elections: April 2022 (due)
Burkina Faso Local Elections: May 2022 (due)
Lesotho Parliamentary Elections: June 2022 (due)
Republic of Congo Legislative Elections: July 2022 (due)
Senegal Legislative Elections: July 2022 (due)
Kenya Presidential and Legislative Elections: August 9, 2022
Angola Legislative Elections: August 2022 (due)
Sao Tome and Principe Parliamentary Elections: October 2022 (due)
Equatorial Guinea Parliamentary Elections: November 2022 (due)
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.
Middle East This Week: September 28, 2021
Last Updated: October 11, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
September 28, 2021
A weekly review of news and analysis of elections in the greater Middle East and North Africa, usually posted on Tuesdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Upcoming Middle East Elections
Qatar Shura Council Elections: October 2, 2021
Qatar has announced that it will hold its first-ever parliamentary elections (Shura Council elections) on October 2, 2021. Qatar is an absolute monarchy in which the emir holds all political power. The only elections that the country has ever held have been for the Central Municipal Council, an advisory body with no real power. Political parties are not allowed. Moreover, the vast majority of people who live in Qatar are not citizens, and have no political rights. The Shura Council has existed since 1972, but has few real powers.
Some have criticized these elections as a cosmetic reform undertaken because of increased pressure because Qatar will be hosting the football World Cup in 2022. More
Sofia Meranto, GZERO (September 29, 2021): Qatar learns international spotlight can be uncomfortable
Gregory Walton, AFP (September 29, 2021): Qatar ready for tightly-controlled first legislative polls
Al Wakrah, AFP (September 28, 2021): Red carpet, prayers and kisses as Qataris go to the polls
Abdel Marzooq, Carnegie Endowment (September 23, 2021): Qatar’s Legislative Elections: A Debate for Citizenship Rights Against Tribal Dominance
Iraq Early Parliamentary Elections: October 10, 2021 (tentative) and Provincial Elections (due)
Iraq plans to hold early elections on October 10 (postponed from the original proposal of holding them on June 6, 2021, one year early) as a result of the pro-democracy protests that began in 2019. The country is also due to hold provincial (sometimes called governorate) elections. Preparations are taking place in the context of widespread protest and political instability.
The current political climate is violent and chaotic, with over 600 people killed since the start of the protests. Moreover, a number of political parties have announced plans to boycott the polls. The Shi’ite firebrand cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, one of Iraq’s most influential politicians, had announced a boycott, but has since reversed course and urged his followers to support the elections. More
Jane Arraf, New York Times (September 29, 2021): Talk of Iraq Recognizing Israel Prompts Threats of Arrest or Death
AFP (September 29, 2021): Top Iraq Shiite cleric urges voting in parliamentary poll
Alison Pargeter, War on the Rocks (September 28, 2021): Tribes, Political Parties, and the Iraqi Elections: A Shifting Dynamic
Reuters (September 28, 2021): Factbox: Who’s competing in Iraq’s elections?
Samya Kullab, AP (September 27, 2021): Shadow contracts, corruption keep the lights out in Iraq
AFP/JIJI (September 26, 2021): ‘Apathy and despair’ seep through Baghdad ahead of Iraq’s October election
Layal Shakir, Rudaw (September 24, 2021): Who’s who in the Iraqi elections?
Djamel Belayachi, France24 Observers (September 23, 2021): Growing calls to boycott Iraq’s legislative elections as activist murders go unpunished
Algeria Early Local Elections: November 27, 2021
Algeria plans to hold early local elections on November 27, 2021. These follow the snap elections held on June 12, 2021, following more than two years of protests by the Hirak movement. However, the government’s election plan did not actually satisfied the Hirak, who boycotted the elections and continue to protest. The absence of the Hirak, who are mostly secular, from the elections has paved the way for Islamist parties to become the main opposition. Ultimately, the FLN, the country’s long-dominant nationalist secular party, won the elections.
The Economist (September 25, 2021): Algeria’s ex-president is dead, but his regime lives on
AFP (September 24, 2021): Algeria Ex-Presidential Candidate Jailed
Irish Times (September 25, 2021 – obituary): Abdelaziz Bouteflika obituary: President of Algeria for nearly 20 years: Independence veteran from the 1950s and 1960s left office following mass protests in 2019
Palestinian Authority Local Elections Stage 1 of 2: December 11, 2021, plus Presidential and Legislative Elections: Long overdue, postponed indefinitely
The Palestinian Authority has proposed holding local elections on December 11, 2021. The PA has postponed its long overdue elections for the legislature and president, which had been scheduled for May 22 and July 31, respectively. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is currently in year 16 of a four-year term. Similarly, the last Legislative Council elections took place in 2006.
Dalia Hatuqa, Foreign Policy (September 24, 2021): A High-Profile Trial Spells Tribulation for the Palestinian Authority
Aaron Boxerman, Times of Israel (September 22, 2021): Hamas rejects Palestinian Authority’s call for municipal elections
Khaled Abu Toameh, Jerusalem Post (September 21, 2021): Palestinian factions oppose PA plan to hold municipal elections: The PA government said that the first phase of the elections, the first since 2017, will be held on December 11.
Taylor Luck and Fatima Abdulkarim, Christian Science Monitor (September 21, 2021): Palestinian leaders are ready for talks. Their voters aren’t so sure.
Libya Parliamentary and Presidential Elections: December 24, 2021 (tentative)
Libya’s national elections are overdue and have been postponed indefinitely due to the political crisis and civil war. However, in November 2020, Libyan stakeholders participating in UN-sponsored talks proposed December 24, 2021 for presidential and parliamentary elections. More
Jennifer Holleis, DW (September 24, 2021): Libya: Will elections finally bring healing?
AFP (September 23, 2021): Libya’s Haftar says suspends military role, ahead of polls
Rami Musa, AP (September 21, 2021): Libya lawmakers pass no confidence vote for transition govt
Arab Weekly (September 21, 2021): Unsure of Libya’s upcoming presidential elections, Islamists prefer to delay them
Libya Observer (September 23, 2021): Four major countries call for Libya’s elections to be held on time
Jordan Local Elections: Fall 2021 (due)
Jordan is due to hold local elections in fall 2021. These follow parliamentary elections, which happened on November 10, 2020. Turnout was low, and both women and Islamist candidates saw poor results. Subsequently, King Abdullah II announced a new high-level committee to enact political reforms. This is not the first such effort in Jordan, and past attempts at change have been a disappointment to those who hope for reform, but it could be promising. More
Lebanon Parliamentary Elections: May 2022 (but will likely take place earlier)
Lebanon is due to hold general elections in May 2022, although some parties have called for early elections. The country has been in a political crisis and without a government since the port explosion in Beirut, in which 215 people died, 7,500 were injured, and 300,000 were left homeless. Moreover, Lebanon is in an economic crisis.
Will O’Brien, Geopolitical Monitor (September 29, 2021): Census and Consensus in Lebanon: Najib Mikati’s First Step
Kareem Chehayeb, Al Jazeera (September 28, 2021): Lebanon: Hezbollah seeks to deflect anger through fuel patronage: Analysts say the Iran-backed party’s expanding patronage aims to boost its popularity amid Lebanon’s energy crisis.
Nader Durgham, Suzan Haidamous and Liz Sly, Washington Post (September 24, 2021): Hezbollah flexes its muscles in Lebanon and provides free Iranian fuel
Reuters (September 24, 2021): Lebanon president tells U.N. big challenges await government, help needed
AFP (September 23, 2021): ‘People have lost hope’: Lebanon’s only suicide hotline inundated
Hanin Ghaddar, Politico (September 21, 2021): Hezbollah’s Grip on Lebanon Is Weakening. Here’s How Washington Can Help.
Bahrain Parliamentary Elections: November 2022 (due)
Bahrain is due to hold parliamentary elections in November 2022. Since a 2011 uprising, Bahrain has become increasingly authoritarian and repressive, especially vis a vis the Shi’ite opposition (Bahrain is more than half Shi’hite but ruled by a Sunni royal family). The opposition was barred from participating in the last elections in 2018. Moreover, the monarch has executive power as well as the power to appoint the prime minister and cabinet. Therefore, parliament is generally not very powerful.
Al Jazeera (September 27, 2021): Bahrain authorities jailed hundreds of children: Report
Trevor Filseth, National Interest (September 27, 2021): Senators Urge Accountability for Bahrain Human Rights Abuses
Past Middle East Elections
Morocco Legislative and Local Elections: September 8, 2021
Morocco held legislative, provincial, and local elections on September 8, 2021. The elections took place in the context of discontentment and disillusionment. The moderate Islamic democratic Party of Justice and Development (PJD), which won the most seats in the 2016 elections, lost badly and will not form the next government.
Although the current monarch, King Mohammed VI, has instituted a number of political reforms, he still plays a major role in governing, both through formal structures and informally. Following the 2011 constitutional reforms, the king must appoint a prime minister from the party that wins the most seats in parliament, but the king can still circumvent elected officials in various ways (including dissolving parliament or simply issuing decrees).
AFP (September 25, 2021): Three women to lead major Morocco cities
Al Jazeera (September 22, 2021): Morocco’s premier Akhannouch announces coalition agreement: Aziz Akhannouch said the three biggest winners of this month’s parliamentary election had agreed to form a new cabinet.
Kamal Abdul Latif, The New Arab (September 21, 2021): Morocco elections: After the Islamists’ fall, a stagnant political system remains
Syria Presidential Election: May 26, 2021
Syria held its presidential election for May 26, 2021. The election happened the context of Syria’s ongoing civil war and humanitarian crisis. Elections under the regime of Bashar al-Assad are widely considered to be a sham. More
Al Jazeera (September 28, 2021): Talks to draft Syria’s constitution to resume on October 18
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, Kurdistan24 (September 28, 2021): Syrian Democratic Council leader confirms plans to hold elections in northeast Syria in the future
Daily Sabah with AA (September 27, 2021): Syrian opposition urges US to push Assad for political transition
Israel Parliamentary Elections, Take 4: March 23, 2021
On March 23, 2021, Israel held its fourth general election in two years after the collapse of the unity government of Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz. Neither Netanyahu’s allies nor his opponents won a majority. Netanyahu, whose conservative Likud party won the most seats, had the first chance to form a coalition, but he failed. Subsequently,Yair Lapid from the centrist Yesh Atid formed a broad coalition with conservative Naftali Bennett, with Bennett as prime minister for a time before rotating the position to Lapid. A number of other parties are in the coalition, which passed a Knesset vote on June 14, thus ending Netanyahu’s 12 years in office. More
Adam Rasgon, New York Times (September 25, 2021): In Reversal, Israel’s New Government Engages With Palestinian Authority
Tunisia Presidential and Legislative Elections: September/October 2019
Tunisia began transitioning to democracy in 2011, amid the Arab Spring protests, and in 2019, held the third national elections since the fall of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Political outsider and populist Kais Saied won the presidency. The results indicated a rejection of the main political parties and post-Ben Ali political ideologies (Islamism and secular liberalism). However, some concerns lingered about the democratic process.
In July 2021, Saied dismissed the government, a move that some deemed a coup. The move has sparked protests and condemnations from political and civil society actors in Tunisia.
Mostafa Salem, CNN (September 29, 2021): Tunisia’s president appoints woman as prime minister in first for Arab world
Vivian Yee, New York Times (September 27, 2021): As Tunisia’s President Cements One-Man Rule, Opposition Grows: In his latest step to consolidate power, President Kais Saied set up a system under which he will essentially govern the country by decree, bypassing the Constitution.
Ayman Jamli and Francoise Kadri, Times of Israel (September 27, 2021): 2,000 Tunisians rally against president’s ‘coup’ after power grab
Reuters (September 26, 2021): Tunisians protest against president’s power grab as opposition deepens
AFP (September 24, 2021): Tunisia parliament speaker urges ‘peaceful struggle’ against president’s power grab
Middle East Elections Coming Up in 2021 and 2022
Qatar Shura Council Elections: October 2, 2021
Iraq Parliamentary Elections: October 10, 2021
Jordan Local and Gubernatorial Elections: Fall 2021 (due)
Palestinian Authority Local Elections Stage 1 of 2: December 11, 2021 (tentative)
Libya Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: December 24, 2021
Lebanon Parliamentary Elections: May 2022 (due)
Algeria Early Local Elections: November 27, 2021
Bahrain Parliamentary Elections: November 2022 (due)
Egypt Local Elections: Due and discussed, but not scheduled
Oman Local Elections: Due, but postponed due to COVID-19
Palestinian Authority Presidential and Legislative Elections: Long overdue, postponed yet again, no date set
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, and their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
Africa This Week: September 27, 2021
Last Updated: October 11, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
September 27, 2021
A weekly review 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.
Upcoming Africa Elections
Ethiopia Partial Elections: September 30, 2021
Ethiopia held general elections on June 21, 2021, after several postponements. These elections took place in the context of increasing ethnic violence that has reached crisis levels. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, previously a reformer (he even won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2019) but most recently an authoritarian, won in a landslide. Polling couldn’t happen in several areas due to the ongoing conflict, so make-up votes are due to take place this fall. Nonetheless, Abiy has enough seats to form a new government regardless of the results of the September elections.
The Reporter Ethiopia (September 25, 2021): Learning from shortcomings of upcoming elections
Leah Abraham, African Arguments (September 24, 2021): The Rise and Rise of Fascism in Ethiopia
Sebastien Roblin, National Interest (September 23, 2021): How Chinese Ballistic Missiles and Iranian Drones Popped Up In Ethiopia’s Civil War in Tigray
Bileh Jelan, Addis Stndard (September 21, 2021): Breaking: More opposition parties pull out of upcoming elections in Somali region
Somalia, Puntland Direct Local Elections: October 25, 2021 and Indirect Presidential Election: February 8, 2022 (tentative – preceded by indirect legislative elections)
Somalia does not hold direct elections, but rather holds indirect elections in a clan-based system. Currently, an indirect presidential election is planned for October 10, delayed from February 8, 2021. The term of President Mohamed “Farmaajo” has expired, leaving Somalia in a political and constitutional crisis. In April 2021, Farmaajo sought to extend his term for two years, but parliament voted to reject the extension.
While the United States and the EU threatened sanctions, some analysts believed that the delay could pave the way for direct elections. However, critics dismiss this idea as a ruse to justify Farmaajo’s extension of his term. The parties reached a deal to hold the elections on October 10, 2021, but this has been pushed to February 8, 2022. Additional delays are possible.
Meanwhile, the self-declared autonomous state of Puntland plans to hold its first-ever direct local elections on October 25. More
Horn Diplomat (September 27, 2021): Somalia’s international partners visit Puntland for Discussions on Local and Federal Elections
BBC (September 26, 2021): Somalia: Seven killed in suicide attack near presidential palace
Miriam Berger, Washington Post (September 23, 2021): For three decades, no films were publicly screened in Somalia. Until now.
Omar S. Mahmood and Abdihakim Ainte, Foreign Policy (September 22, 2021): Could Somalia Be the Next Afghanistan? A similar rapid collapse of state institutions awaits if Somali elites and Western governments don’t alter their approach.
South Africa Local Elections: October 27, 2021
South Africa will hold local elections on October 27, 2021, although some have called for delays due to COVID-19. Voters will elect councils for all municipalities in each of the country’s nine provinces. These are taking place in the context of unrest following the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma for corruption. More
Gersende Rambourg and Susan Njanji, AFP (September 27, 2021): Local vote to challenge dominance of South Africa’s ANC
Gambia Presidential Election: December 4, 2021
Gambia is due to hold its first presidential election since it began its remarkable transition to democracy in 2016, when 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 election 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.
In a shock move, Barrow announced an alliance with Jammeh ahead of December’s election. More
Abe Daramy, BBC (September 25, 2021): Gambia’s Jammeh pact bombshell: Treachery or reconciliation?
Senegal Local Elections: January 31, 2022
Senegal has set local elections – originally due in June 2019 but delayed several times – for January 31, 2022. Meanwhile, legislative elections are due in July 2022. More
Mawunyo Hermann Boko, Jeune Afrique (September 23, 2021 – in French): Senegal: between young people and politicians, an insurmountable gap
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 27, 2022 (following two coups)
Mali has set presidential and legislative elections for February 27, 2022, following the August 2020 coup. In the coup, 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. Before that, there will be a constitutional referendum on October 31, 2021 and local and regional elections on December 26.
On May 25, Mali had another coup, but leaders have stated that the elections will remain on the calendar for 2022. However, the situation remains fluid.
AFP (September 26, 2021): Mali elections could be postponed, prime minister tells AFP
Joseph Siegle and Daniel Eizenga, Africa Center for Strategic Studies (September 23, 2021): Russia’s Wagner Play Undermines the Transition in Mali
Chris Olaoluwa Ogunmodede, World Politics Review (September 23, 2021): The Wagner Group Is the Last Thing Mali Needs
Corinne Dufka, Human Rights Watch (September 22, 2021): Another Political Detention in Mali
AFP (September 21, 2021): France’s defence minister warns Mali against hiring Russian ‘mercenary’ firm
Angola Legislative Elections: August 2022 (due) and Local Elections: Overdue, no date set
Angola, which has never held free elections, and has been ruled by the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), a former armed group, since independence in 1976, is due to hold legislative elections in August 2022. In addition, the country is overdue to hold its first-ever local elections. These elections have already been delayed multiple times (most recently in September 2020), and no date has been set. Meanwhile, COVID-19 provides an excuse for additional delays. In short, it is unclear when – or whether – the local elections will actually happen. More
Estelle Mauisson, The Africa Report (September 23, 202): Angola: The battle between Lourenço and Costa Júnior is just beginning
South Sudan Elections: December 2022 (planned)
South Sudan plans to hold elections in December 2022, the first since independence in 2011. Salva Kiir had been president of the semi-autonomous region while it was still part of Sudan, and he remained in office following independence. The legislature’s mandate expired in 2015 (it had been elected in 2010, before independence), and has been extended several times. Additional election delays are possible.
Mantsadi Sepheka, AllAfrica (September 27, 2021): South Sudan: Elections Won’t End in ‘Miraculously’ Having Democracy, South Sudan Needs a Vision
Chad Elections: By December 2022 (tentative, post-coup)
Chad held a presidential election on April 11, 2021. President Idriss Déby, seized power in a rebellion in 1990, won a sixth term. However, on April 20, he was killed by rebels.
Although the country holds elections, there has never been a change in power by a free or fair vote. Long-delayed long-delayed parliamentary elections had been set for October 24, 2021 and local elections for April 2022. Originally due in 2015, the legislative elections have been delayed multiple times. However, Deby’s death could lead to further delays – the military has said it plans to rule the country for 18 months. More
Reuters (September 25, 2021): Chad plans to double army size to deal with security challenges
Al Jazeera (September 24, 2021): Chad’s military ruler Mahamat Deby names transitional parliament: The so-called National Transitional Council ‘will act as a national assembly of transition’ ahead of elections, statement says.
Eswatini Parliamentary Elections: August 2023 (due)
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.
On June 20, 2021, a series of protests calling for democratic reform began. Protests continue.
Pariesa Young, France24 (September 27, 2021): Students walk out of classes in Eswatini’s ongoing pro-democracy movement
Democratic Republic of the Congo General Elections: December 2023 (due)
The DRC is due to hold general elections in 2023. The December 2018 presidential and legislative elections, which took place after multiple delays, were mired in controversy and dispute. The election commission declared opposition leader Félix Tshisekedi the winner of the presidential poll, but the Catholic Church, which deployed 40,000 election observers and is a highly trusted institution in the country, said that their data indicated a victory for another opposition leader, Martin Fayulu.
When Kabila’s chosen successor, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, was polling too poorly for Kabila to credibly rig the election for him, Kabila cut a deal with Tshisekedi.
The legislative elections – also highly disputed – produced a majority for Kabila’s coalition. Major opposition figures Moïse Katumbi and Jean-Pierre Bemba were barred from the polls and spent the election cycle outside the country, but both have returned.
Helen Reid, Reuters (September 14, 2021): EXCLUSIVE Congo in talks with China’s Huayou to end dispute over cobalt mine
Jevans Nyabiage, South China Morning Post (September 25, 2021): China, the US and a Twitter tit-for-tat over Congo cobalt contracts
IANS (September 24, 2021): China’s investment in Africa: Several countries cancel contracts on exploitative, unfair deals
Sudan General Elections: By 2024 (due)
Sudan plans to hold general elections by 2024, the culmination of a five-year transition to democracy that began with the July 2019 removal of dictator Omar al-Bashir following several months of protests. Al-Bashir was removed in a military coup, and a junta ruled briefly, but entered into an agreement with the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), a wide-ranging coalition of opposition groups, to transition the country to democracy. However, numerous challenges remain.
Michelle Gavin, Council on Foreign Relations (September 27, 2021): Thwarted Coup Signals Dangerous Times for Sudan’s Transition
Agencies/Times of Israel (September 26, 2021): Chief of Sudan’s ruling body pledges reforms to army following attempted coup: General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan says armed forces are committed to holding elections in 2023, ending the transitional period
Declan Walsh, New York Times (September 21, 2021): Sudan Leaders Say They Thwarted Coup Attempt by Loyalists of Former Dictator
Guinea Elections: TBD, following coup
On September 5, 2021, Guinea’s president, Alpha Condé, fell in a military coup. Guinea’s political future remains uncertain, but regional and international bodies, as well as Guinean civil society and political groups, have urged elections.
Condé was re-elected in October 2020 amid violence. He sought and won a controversial third term, and for the third time, faced off against opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo. Both candidates claimed they won, but election officials declared Condé the winner. However, Diallo challenged the results, alleging fraud and prompting street protests leading to at least 10 deaths. The government arrested a number of opposition members following the election. More
Saliou Samb, Reuters (September 27, 2021): Guinea junta bars its members from running in next elections
David Zounmenou, ISS Today (September 24, 2021): Can coups be removed from Guinea’s political culture?
Laurent Lozano and Mouctar Bah, AFP (September 24, 2021): In Guinea opposition bastion, hopes for a brighter future
The Africa Report (September 22, 2021): Guinea: Can Doumbouya lead the country in a peaceful transition?
Ovigwe Eguegu, The Diplomat (September 21, 2021): Does Guinea’s Coup Matter to China?
Past Africa Elections
Zambia General Elections: August 12, 2021
Zambia held August 12, 2021 following a hotly-contested campaign between President Edgar Lungu and Hakainde Hichilema, the main opposition leader, who narrowly lost to Lungu in 2016. Ultimately, Hichilema won the presidential election in a landslide, restoring hope in Zambia’s democracy.
Zambia used to be a model democracy in the region, with regular, competitive elections and a vibrant civil society. However, under Edgar Lungu, elected in 2015 to complete the term of Michael Sata (who died in office), Zambia began to regress toward authoritarianism. The 2016 elections were marred by political violence and allegations of vote-rigging but ultimately judged credible. Similarly, this year, despite concerns about violence and the larger pre-election environment – as well as a social media shutdown on election day – observers judged the polls credible. Lungu initially took a page from Donald Trump’s playbook and alleged fraud, but ultimately conceded defeat. Hichilema’s liberal United Party for National Development (UPND) also won a majority in the parliamentary election.
Larry Madowo, CNN (September 25, 2021): Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema ran for president five times and lost. Now he’s basking in glow of historic win
Somaliland Parliamentary and Local Elections: May 31, 2021
Somaliland held its long-overdue parliamentary and local elections on May 31, 2021. The two main opposition parties, Waddani and UCID, together won more seats in parliament than the governing Kulmiye party. Waddani and UCID will team up to choose a parliament speaker and on local councils (where they also won). Somaliland is a presidential system, so there’s no PM. President Muse Bihi Abdi from Kulmiye remains head of state. But it is significant for democracy that the opposition won the “midterms.”
Somaliland has de facto but not internationally-recognized independence from Somalia, and has a much more developed democracy, with direct elections. More
Andres Schipani, Financial Times (September 27, 2021): Somaliland battles for recognition after 30 years’ fending for itself: Despite stable elections and a functional state, self-declared nation struggles to win global acceptance
Abdulkadir Khalif, The East African (September 24, 2021): Somalia: Somaliland Protests Against Election of Representatives to Somalia Senate
Benin Presidential Election: April 11, 2021
Benin held a presidential election on April 11, 2021. Incumbent Patrice Talon won a second term after largely keeping the opposition off the ballot. Previously a model democracy in the region, Benin has seen democratic decline since Talon’s election in 2016. More
Africanews/AFP (September 22, 2021): Benin President meets rival and predecessor Boni Yayi
Central African Republic Partial Legislative Elections and Runoffs: March 14, 2021
The Central African Republic (CAR) held presidential and partial legislative elections on December 27, 2020 in the midst of a worsening security situation. Rebels disrupted voting in some areas, so consequently, those constituencies held the first round of their legislative elections on March 14, 2021. In addition, some of the constituencies that did vote on December 27 held runoff elections for their legislators.
These elections took place in the context of a humanitarian crisis and a crisis of governance. Sectarian clashes have been taking place since 2013. Moreover, Russia has ramped up its political and military involvement in exchange for mining rights. More
Jack Losh, BBC (September 22, 2021): Central African Republic war: No-go zones and Russian meddling
Côte d’Ivoire Parliamentary Elections: March 6, 2021 and Presidential Election: October 31, 2020
Côte d’Ivoire just completed a major election cycle that began in turbulent fashion when incumbent president Alasanne Ouattara sought and won a controversial third term. The opposition boycotted the presidential election. Protests followed, as well as arrests of opposition members.
However, during the March parliamentary elections, the situation calmed down a bit. Following discussions and the release of some opposition figures, the opposition participated in the legislative elections.
Former president Laurent Gbagbo cast a long shadow over the recent election cycle. He had been tried by the International Criminal Court following violence surrounding his refusal to accept his loss of the 2010 election. Gbagbo was ultimately acquitted, but an appeal against the acquittal kept him in Belgium until this year. He has now returned home. More
By Takudzwa Hillary Chiwanza, The African Exponent (September 26, 2021): Here is How Didier Drogba’s Influence Ended Civil War In Ivory Coast: Didier Drogba is a name that resonates with millions of football fans across the world
Tanzania General Elections: October 25, 2020
Tanzania held presidential and legislative elections on October 25, 2020 in the context of a crackdown on the opposition and growing authoritarianism. President John Magufuli, whose Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has been in power since 1961, won a second term, but the opposition said the elections were neither free nor fair. Opposition figures have been arrested, assaulted, and murdered.
However, in March 2021, Magufuli died of COVID-19, and then-vice president Samia Suluhu Hassan became the country’s first female president. Some have hoped that she would enact reforms geared toward restoring democracy. However, arrests of opposition figures continue. More
Abdul Halim, The Africa Report (September 22, 2021): Tanzania: ‘Freeman Mbowe’s case has been unfair since day one’ says leading human rights activist
Hadija Jumanne and James Magai, The Citizen Tanzania (September 21, 2021): Witness ‘stunned’ to hear about Mbowe’s charges
Cameroon Municipal, Legislative, and Regional Elections: February 9, 2020 (delayed from October 2019)
Cameroon holds elections, but President Paul Biya, at age 85 the oldest ruler in Africa, has been in power since 1982, most recently winning re-election in 2018. Elections in the country, including the most recent, have been marred by accusations of ballot-stuffing and intimidation of the opposition. The opposition claims Maurice Kamto actually won the election, and opposition supports have staged a number of protests, which the government answered with a harsh crackdown and hundreds of arrests, including the arrest of Kamto himself.
Cameroon is in the midst of several other crises. Anglophone separatists seek to form a new country called Ambazonia. The government has accused them of terrorism. The crisis is currently deadlocked, with neither side willing to make concessions, leaving half a million people displaced.
Franck Foute, The Africa Report (September 27, 2021): Cameroon: What will President Paul Biya’s regime do with its opponents?
Human Rights Watch (September 22, 2021): Cameroon: Repression Marks Crackdown Anniversary
Mozambique Presidential, Legislative, and Provincial Elections: October 15, 2019
Mozambique held elections in October 2019 amid several crises, including political violence, natural disasters, and an Islamist insurgency.
Baz Ratner and Shafiek Tassiem, Reuters (September 25, 2021): Mozambicans return to uncertain future after Islamists pushed back
Sérgio Chichava and Henry Tugendhat, War on the Rocks (September 23, 2021): Al-Shabaab and Chinese trade practices in Mozambique
Rwanda Local Elections: 2021 (due – date not set)
Rwanda is due to hold local elections in 2021. Since the 1994 genocide, Rwanda has been stable but authoritarian. Opposition figures are frequently imprisoned and sometimes killed or disappeared.
Most recently, Paul Rusesabagina, who saved many lives during the genocide and subsequently was depicted in the film Hotel Rwanda, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on charges that critics decried as politically motivated.
The Economist (September 27, 2021): How does Paul Kagame, Rwanda’s president, get away with it? Even as evidence of the brutality and thuggishness of his rule mounts up, the West continues to support him
Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times (September 20, 2021): From Hero of ‘Hotel Rwanda,’ to Dissident, to 25-Year Prison Sentence: The trial of Paul Rusesabagina, whose story was portrayed in the Oscar-nominated movie, was denounced by human rights advocates as a “show trial” intended to silence critics of Rwanda’s president.
Human Rights Watch (September 27, 2021): Rwanda: Round Ups-Linked to Commonwealth Meeting
Regional Analysis
Joseph Siegle, Africa Center for Strategic Studies (September 24, 2021): Russia in Africa: Undermining Democracy through Elite Capture
Chrispin Mwakideu, DW (September 24, 2021): UN General Assembly: Africa’s leaders push for unity
Tamara White, Brookings Institution (September 23, 2021): Figure of the week: Internet freedom in sub-Saharan Africa declines
Karoli Ssemogerere, Daily Monitor Uganda (September 23, 2021): How presidential transitions will map African destiny
Africa Elections Coming Up in 2021 and 2022
Ethiopia Partial Elections: September 30, 2021 (Following delays)
Cabo Verde Presidential Election: October 17, 2021
Somalia, Direct Local Elections in Puntland: October 25, 2021
South Africa Local Elections: October 27, 2021
Nigeria, Anambra State Gubernatorial Election: November 6, 2021
Gambia Presidential Election: December 4, 2021
Angola Local Elections: Overdue, might possibly happen in 2021
Senegal Local Elections: January 23, 2021
Somalia Indirect Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 8, 2022 (Tentative, following numerous delays – additional delays possible)
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 27, 2022 (following coup – delays possible)
Gambia Parliamentary Elections: April 2022 (due)
Burkina Faso Local Elections: May 2022 (due)
Lesotho Parliamentary Elections: June 2022 (due)
Republic of Congo Legislative Elections: July 2022 (due)
Senegal Legislative Elections: July 2022 (due)
Kenya Presidential and Legislative Elections: August 9, 2022
Angola Legislative Elections: August 2022 (due)
Sao Tome and Principe Parliamentary Elections: October 2022 (due)
Equatorial Guinea Parliamentary Elections: November 2022 (due)
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.
Americas This Week: September 25, 2021
Last Updated: October 7, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
September 25, 2021
A weekly review of news and analysis of elections in the Americas, usually posted on Saturdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Upcoming Americas Elections
Nicaragua General Elections: November 7, 2021
Nicaragua holds general elections on November 7, 2021. President Daniel Ortega, who has been in power for 20 years, will seek another term, and under his rule, Nicaragua has become increasingly authoritarian, with rule of law and fundamental freedoms under assault.
Several opposition candidates have been arrested, including Cristiana Chamorro, seen by many as the opposition’s best chance of ousting Ortega (in fact, her mother, Violeta Chamorro, beat Ortega in the 1990 election, becoming Nicaragua’s first – and to date only – female president and ending 11 years of Sandinista rule).
AFP (September 25, 2021): Nicaragua’s presidential campaign kicks off, with no rivals
Savannah Jacobson, Columbia Journalism Review (September 20, 2021): Press freedom, protest, and the Nicaragua election
Human Rights Watch (September 20, 2021): Nicaragua: Trumped-Up Charges Against Critics
Elliott Abrams, National Review (September 19, 2021): Nicaragua’s Dangerous Family Dictatorship
Haiti Parliamentary and Presidential Elections: November 7, 2021 (additional delays possible)
Haiti plans to hold presidential and parliamentary elections this year in the midst of political and humanitarian crises. The political crisis went into overdrive on July 7 with the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Moïse had been governing by decree for over a year and stood accused by many of attempting to consolidate power through a controversial constitutional change (Moïse ultimately postponed the referendum).
Allegations of fraud followed Haiti’s presidential 2015 election, sparking a political crisis that remains ongoing. Some have called for the upcoming elections to be delayed, but the interim government has said they will take place this year (although the date could be moved, especially in the wake of a deadly earthquake on August 14 that left over 1,000 people dead).
Jennifer Peltz, AP (September 25, 2021): Haiti’s leader: Migration won’t end unless inequality does
AP (September 24, 2021): US special envoy to Haiti resigns over migrant expulsions
Laura Gottesdiener, Reuters (September 21, 2021): How a drug-trafficking mayor in Honduras fueled the U.S. migration crisis
Argentina Midterm Legislative Elections: November 14, 2021 (postponed from October)
Argentina is due to hold midterm legislative elections on November 14, along with a few sets of provincial elections on various dates. Although most of the country’s 23 provinces hold their elections at the same time as presidential elections (which last took place in 2019 and are due again in 2023), a few are due to hold elections this year.
Argentina’s 2021 elections – both provincial and legislative – are happening in the context of an economic crisis, which the leftist government and COVID-19 have exacerbated. In the 2019 presidential election, Peronist Alberto Fernández defeated center-right incumbent Mauricio Macri (the first defeat for an Argentine incumbent president), running on a ticket with populist firebrand Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who served as president from 2007 to 2015. Kirchner herself did not run for president because she was facing criminal charges related to misconduct during her time in office. Frente de Todos, the party formed by Kirchner and Fernández, currently holds a majority in the Senate and is the biggest party in the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house.
Frida Ghitis, World Politics Review (September 23, 2021): In Argentina, Fernandez vs. Fernandez Is Bad News for Everyone
Daniel Politi and Ernesto Londoño, New York Times (September 22, 2021): In Argentina, a Political Alliance of Convenience Comes Undone: Argentina’s vice president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, masterminded the plan to elect President Alberto Fernández. Now they’re openly sparring.
Stratfor (September 20, 2021): Argentina’s Political Crisis Will Give Populism a Boost
AFP (September 18, 2021): Argentina’s president reshuffles cabinet after political crisis: official
The Economist (September 18, 2021): Argentine voters deal a blow to the ruling Peronist coalition: The primary elections are both a referendum on the government and an augury for elections in November
Venezuela Regional and Local Elections: November 21, 2021
Venezuela has scheduled regional and local elections for November 21, 2021. In December 2020, Venezuela held legislative elections despite members of the opposition and international community calling for a delay in order to ensure credible, fair elections. Ultimately, most of the opposition boycotted; however, opposition parties appear willing to participate in the elections this year.
María Isabel Puerta Riera, Global Americans (September 24, 2021): America is Back? The reframing of democracy promotion in Latin America
Alex Vasquez and Ezra Fieser, Bloomberg (September 24, 2021): Why Venezuela’s ‘Two Presidents’ Are Ready to Talk
Vivian Sequera and Brian Ellsworth, Reuters (September 23, 2021): Venezuela spoiler candidates pose threat to opposition in regional vote
Eddy Acevedo, National Review (September 22, 2021): Capitulation Will Only Embolden the Maduro Regime
Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald (September 22, 2021): Biden’s U.N. speech was a good one, but he should have come down harder on Cuba, Venezuela
Honduras General Elections: November 28, 2021
Honduras holds presidential and legislative elections on November 28, 2021, following the March 14 primaries.
These elections are taking place in the context of polarization. The 2017 elections, which saw the controversial re-election of President Juan Orlando Hernández from the conservative National Party, were turbulent, with at least 30 people dying in protests over allegations of fraud. Hernández defeated Xiomara Castro, the wife of leftist former president Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in 2009. Castro is running again this year, after winning the LIBRE party primary.
On the geopolitical front, Honduras is one of the few countries that maintains formal diplomatic relations Taiwan, but Beijing has been pressuring politicians to change that. LIBRE has said that it will switch its recognition to Beijing if it wins these elections. More
Reuters (September 13, 2021): China taking advantage of Honduras vote, Taipei says
AP (September 22, 2021): Honduras’ President at U.N. Denies Ties to Drug Trafficking
Colombia Legislative Elections: March 13, 2022 and Presidential Election: May 29, 2022
Colombia is due to hold presidential and legislative elections in spring 2022. Conservative Ivan Duque, elected president in 2018, is constitutionally barred from running for re-election. One of the frontrunners to replace him is former left-wing guerilla Gustavo Petro, who placed second in 2018. The country has been rocked by riots recently. The proximate cause was a tax bill, but the protests have grown – and grown violent – and dozens have died.
Jan Martínez Ahrens and Inés Santaeulalia, El País (September 22, 2021): Gustavo Petro: ‘Colombia doesn’t need socialism, it needs democracy and peace’: The frontrunner in the polls for the 2022 presidential elections talks to EL PAÍS about how he plans to help the Colombian people, and why he will leave politics if he loses the vote
Brazil Presidential and Legislative Elections: October 2, 2022
Brazil holds general elections in October 2022. Jair Bolsonaro, the right-wing populist firebrand president, is up for re-election. Former president Lula da Silva, himself a populist firebrand of the left-wing variety, will run against him. The country remains deeply polarized between right and left, although some third-way candidates plan to challenge both Bolsonaro and Lula. More
Jack Nicas, New York Times (September 15, 2021): Bolsonaro’s Ban on Removing Social Media Posts Is Overturned in Brazil
Michael Stott and Brian Harris, Financial Times (September 13, 2021): Brazil governor pitches third way between Bolsonaro and Lula in 2022 elections
Brian Winter, Americas Quarterly (September 20, 2021): Have Brazilians Given Up on Bolsonaro?
Past Americas Elections
Canada Snap Parliamentary Elections: September 20, 2021
Canada held snap elections on September 20, 2021, two years early. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hoped to win a majority for his Liberals. He ended up remaining in power, but once again helming a minority government. His gamble did not pay off.
Amanda Coletta, Washington Post (September 25, 2021): China’s ‘hostage diplomacy’ standoff with Canada is over. But how much damage was done?
Affan Chowdhry and Paula Newton, CNN (September 21, 2021): Justin Trudeau’s early election gamble backfires in Canada but he clings onto power
Conrad Black, The Spectator (September 21, 2021): Another stupid, redundant, dismal Canadian election
Andy Blatchford, Politico (September 21, 2021): What Trudeau’s win means for Canada-U.S. relations
Bahamas Snap General Elections: September 16, 2021
Bahamas held snap elections on September 16, eight months early. The Bahamas is a democracy and the two main parties, the governing center-right Free National Movement (FNM) and the center-left main opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) have both done stints in power.
In these elections, PLP ousted FNM.
Jim Wyss, Bloomberg (September 19, 2021): Bahamas’ Opposition Party Wins 32 out of 39 Parliamentary Seats
CARICOM (September 17, 2021): Bahamas Elections reflect will of the people: Preliminary Statement, CARICOM Election Observation Mission
El Salvador Legislative and Local Elections: February 28, 2021
El Salvador held legislative and local elections on February 28, 2021. Allies of populist president Nayib Bukele won in a landslide, allowing him to consolidate his hold on the country with a legislative majority. Critics note growing authoritarianism. More
AP (September 21, 2021): El Salvador president says he’s world’s ‘coolest dictator’
Reuters (September 20, 2021): U.S. adds top Guatemalan, Salvadoran officials to corruption list
Uruguay Presidential and Legislative Elections: October 27, 2024
Uruguay holds general elections in 2024. The 2019 presidential election ended 15 years of leftist government by the center-left and social democratic Frente Amplio (Broad Front) coalition when center-right candidate Luis Lacalle Pou won (after he himself defeated a right-wing populist in his party’s primary). Corruption allegations and slow economic growth preceded the elections, leading to a vote for change.
Eric Farnsworth and Carlos Mazal, AS/COA (September 23, 2021): The U.S. Should Cozy Up to Uruguay. Here’s Why.
Americas Elections Coming Up in 2021 and 2022
Paraguay Local Elections: October 10, 2021
Nicaragua Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 7, 2021
Haiti Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 7, 2021 (additional delays possible following assassination of president and catastrophic earthquake)
Argentina Midterm Legislative Elections: November 14, 2021
Chile Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 21, 2021
Venezuela Regional and Local Elections: November 21, 2021
Honduras Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 28, 2021
Guyana Local Elections: Due in 2021
Costa Rica Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 6, 2022
Colombia Legislative Elections: March 13, 2022
Colombia Presidential Election: May 29, 2022
Brazil Presidential and Legislative Elections: October 2, 2022
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.
Asia This Week: September 24, 2021
Last Updated: October 4, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
September 24, 2021
A weekly review of key news and analysis of elections in Asia and the Indo-Pacific, usually posted on Fridays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Upcoming Asia/Pacific Elections
Japan General Elections: By November 2021
Japan is due to hold general elections by November, 2021, but they could happen earlier. These come on the heels of Tokyo Assembly elections, in which Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) did not win a majority. Before the elections, the assembly was dominated by the Tomin First party, founded by Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike, who used to belong to LDP.
In addition, the LDP will hold a leadership contest on September 29. The winner will become prime minister and will lead the party into the general elections. Suga has announced that he will not seek re-election, and four candidates are running to succeed him. The result is far from certain. The two frontrunners appear to be former foreign minister Kishida Fumio and current vaccine czar Kono Taro, but former internal affairs minister Takaichi Sanae is gathering momentum, helped by former prime minister Shinzo Abe’s enthusiastic endorsement. She hopes to become Japan’s first female prime minister. Finally, former gender equality minister Noda Seiko rounds out the field with a long shot candidacy.
Elliot Waldman, World Politics Review (September 24, 2021): A Refreshingly Competitive Leadership Race for Japan’s Ruling Party
The Economist (September 23, 2021): Japan readies itself for an unpredictable ballot: The ruling party’s leadership contest may matter more than the next national election
Julian Ryall, South China Morning Post (September 21, 2021): Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’ Sanae Takaichi focuses on Taiwan, US in appeal to China hawks before LDP vote
Mari Yamaguchi, AP (September 17, 2021): Japan governing party begins race to pick Suga successor
Hong Kong Legislative Elections: December 19, 2021
Hong Kong is holding elections to the Legislative Council on December 19, 2021, after more than a year’s delay. These elections are taking place in the context of Beijing’s determination to gut Hong Kong’s democracy. More
Doug Bandow, Foreign Policy (September 23, 2021): Hong Kong’s National Security Promises Were All Hollow: The Beijing-backed law is now used to crush dissent across the board.
Oliver Young, China Digital Times (September 23, 2021): Hong Kong’s expansive National Security Law swallows activists, bail requests, and M&Ms
Helen Davidson, The Guardian (September 23, 2021): Hong Kong leader defends election after single non-establishment figure picked for 1,500-strong committee
Chris Lau and Jeffie Lam, South China Morning Post (September 22, 2021): Hong Kong elections: ‘majority support’ among Democratic Party members for Legislative Council boycott following Beijing’s system overhaul
Stephen Vines, Hong Kong Free Press (September 22, 2021): Hong Kong’s small-circle election: an incompetent, predictable farce
Jacky Wong, Wall Street Journal (September 20, 2021): Hong Kong Tycoons Won’t Escape China Crackdown
Kenji Kawase, Nikkei Asia (September 20, 2021): Hong Kong police seize M&M’s as national security threat
Didi Tang, Times of London (September 18, 2021): Hong Kong police to deploy one officer per voter for committee elections
Kevin Drew, U.S. News and World Report (September 16, 2021): Hong Kong Crackdown a Part of China’s Larger Strategy
Taiwan Referendum: December 18, 2021 and Local Elections: November 2022 (due)
Taiwan, a robust democracy, is due to hold a referendum on December 18 with four questions (on algae reef protection, lifting restrictions on pork imports from the U.S., the activation of a nuclear plant, and referendum dates). After that, local elections are due in November 2022.
The country held presidential and legislative elections in January 2020. President Tsai Ing-Wen’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the legislative elections and Tsai herself was re-elected president. The DPP, established in 1986 during Taiwan’s transition to democracy, supports Taiwan’s independence. The main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), founded by Sun Yat-Sen, favors closer ties to the mainland, which it ruled from 1925 to 1948. Relations with China are a dominant theme in Taiwan’s political debate.
Itamar Waksman, SupChina (September 24, 2021): Ahead of chair election, a critical moment for Taiwan’s KMT
Lawrence Chung, South China Morning Post (September 20, 2021): Taiwan: will dark horse pushing cross-strait union upend two-way race for KMT chair
India, State Elections in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand: February/March 2022 (due)
Five Indian states are due to hold elections in early 2022. These elections will be a key test for the two biggest parties, PM Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the main opposition Congress Party.
Salimah Shivji, CBC News (September 20, 2021): India’s protesting farmers set sights on key state election
Hindustan Times (September 19, 2021): Assembly elections 2022: As Punjab gets a new chief minister, here’s all you need to know
Reuters (September 18, 2021): Punjab’s chief minister quits ahead of Indian state elections
South Korea Presidential Election: March 9, 2022
South Korea holds its presidential election on March 9, 2021. Recently, the conservative opposition won special mayoral elections in Seoul and Busan by a landslide, just a year after President Moon Jae-in’s center-left Democratic Party swept the legislature. Moreover, Moon’s approval rating is tanking.
Victor Cha, Foreign Affairs (September 22, 2021): The Last Chance to Stop North Korea?
Sotaro Suzuki, Nikkei Asia (September 21, 2021): South Korean presidential campaign mired in mudslinging
Yonhap (September 19, 2021): Ruling party chief says U.S. policy on N. Korea remains too ‘vague’
Philippines Presidential Election: May 9, 2022
Philippines holds a presidential election on May 9, 2022. In 2016, populist firebrand Rodrigo Duterte won the presidency, claiming to be an outsider. He has governed with an iron fist. Although he is banned from seeking a second term, critics fear that he will seek to consolidate illiberalism in the form of a handpicked successor. Meanwhile, a broad coalition of opposition figures have formed 1Sambayan (One Nation) in the hopes of defeating Duterte’s allies with a united front. Boxing star Manny Pacquiao, a former Duterte ally, has been discussed as a possible presidential candidate for 1Sambayan.
Duterte has made moves to bring the Philippines closer to China and away from the United States during his tenure in office, but has ultimately kept the defense pact with the U.S. in tact.
AP (September 22, 2021): Manila mayor, ex-scavenger and actor, to seek presidency
Neil Jerome Morales, Reuters (September 20, 2021): Factbox: Politicians tipped for Philippines 2022 presidential race
Regine Cabato and Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post (September 20, 2021): Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao announces run for Philippines president
BBC (September 19, 2021): Manny Pacquiao: Boxing star to run for Philippines president
Rebecca Ratcliffe and Carmela Fonbuena, The Guardian (September 18, 2021): Will she run for president? Duterte’s daughter keeps the Philippines guessing
Rebecca Falconer, Axios (September 16, 2021): ICC authorizes full investigation into Duterte’s deadly drugs war
Cambodia Local Elections: June 5, 2022 and Parliamentary Elections: July 2023 (due)
Cambodia is due to hold local elections in 2022 and general elections in 2023. Although Cambodia has held elections in the past that had some element of competition, the 2018 election – neither free nor fair – signified the closing of Cambodia’s political space. They have been called “the death of democracy.”
The main pro-democracy opposition, Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), was dissolved and banned from fielding candidates, and its leader, Sam Rainsy, was sent into exile, so its supporters boycotted the polls, resulting in the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) taking 58 out of 62 seats in parliament, and allowing Prime Minister Hun Sen to consolidate even more power while extending his three decades in power.
Radio Free Asia (September 22, 2021): Leader of Cambodia’s Banned Opposition Party Would Offer Amnesty to Hun Sen
Luke Hunt, The Diplomat (September 22, 2021): The Election Bells are Again Ringing Early in Cambodia: Charges against a political analyst were dropped on the urging of a Zoom-bombing prime minister.
Sopheng Cheang, AP (September 17, 2021): Cambodian leader boasts he barged into opposition video call
Australia Parliamentary Elections: May 2022 (due – snap elections possible)
Australia’s federal parliamentary elections are due by 2022, but snap elections could happen. In Australia’s last federal elections in May 2019, the conservative Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, won a surprise victory, even though polls had predicted that Labor would oust them. The Liberals are currently in their third term in government. Morrison has been criticized for his “COVID zero” strategy that has been used to justify increasingly authoritarian policies.
Meanwhile, several states hold various types of elections in 2021.
Anthony Klan, Financial Times (September 19, 2021): Morrison’s submarine deal threatens to split Australian opposition
Adrian Beaumont, The Conversation (September 18, 2021): Coalition gains a point in Newspoll, but Morrison slides back into net negative ratings
The Economist (September 18, 2021): Australia’s states are asserting themselves
Thailand, Bangkok Local Elections and Referendum: TBD
Thai officials have said they will schedule elections soon for various types of local elections (such as Bangkok city council) and potentially a constitutional referendum. These follow provincial elections that took place in December 2020 and municipal elections in March 2021.
These elections are taking place in the context of unprecedented protests against the monarchy, and calls for unprecedented types of reforms. These protests have been going on for months. More
Shaun Cameron, Lowy Institute (September 22, 2021): By land or sea: Thailand
perseveres with the Kra Canal
AFP (September 19, 2021): Protesters call to ‘kick out’ Thai PM on coup anniversary: Demonstrators mark the 15th anniversary of coup d’etat that overthrew then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Past Asia/Pacific Elections
Bangladesh Partial Local Elections: September 2021
Some of Bangladesh’s towns held local elections this month. Bangladesh Parliamentary Elections: December 30, 201
Bangladesh last held general elections to the Jatiya Sangsad (parliament) in December 2018 amid political violence and harassment of the opposition. The Awami League (AL) has been in power since 2009 and is becoming increasingly authoritarian. More
Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee, Daily Star Bangladesh (September 23, 2021): Local Body Polls: Uncontested wins, rebels bug AL
Chris Thompson, Foreign Brief (September 20, 2021): Voting in Bangladesh’s local elections to open
Samoa General Elections: April 9, 2021
Samoa held general elections on April 9, 2021, and after a post-election roller coaster ride, a new prime minister has finally been inaugurated and approved by the courts. A new opposition party, Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST, “Faith in the one true God”), posed a new challenge to the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), which has been in power since 1982.
FAST ultimately won the knife-edge election, but the former prime minister refused to concede and the ensuing political standoff lasted more than three months. Following a court decision, FAST was declared the winner of the elections and Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa was sworn in as prime minister – the first woman to hold the office.
Radio New Zealand (September 16, 2021): Samoa elections: Bitter rivals embrace as MPs finally sworn in
Asia/Pacific Elections Coming Up in 2021 and 2022
Macau Legislative Elections: September 12, 2021
Japan Parliamentary Elections: By October 2021 (snap elections possible)
Timor-Leste Municipal Elections: October 2021 (due)
Tonga General Elections: By November 30, 2021
New Caledonia Independence Referendum: December 12, 2021
Taiwan Referendum: December 18, 2021
Hong Kong Legislative Council Elections: December 19, 2021
Sri Lanka Early Provincial Elections: Late 2021 (proposed)
Nepal Parliamentary Elections: January 2022 (due)
India, State Elections in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand: February/March 2022 (due)
South Korea Presidential Election: March 9, 2022
Timor-Leste Presidential Election: March 2022 (due)
Philippines Presidential and Legislative Elections: May 9, 2022
Australia Parliamentary Elections: May 2022 (due – snap elections possible)
Papua New Guinea Parliamentary Elections: June 2022 (due)
Cambodia Local Elections: June 5, 2022
Nauru Parliamentary Elections: August 2022 (due)
India, State Elections in Himachal Pradesh: October 2022 (due)
Fiji Parliamentary Elections: November 2022 (due)
Taiwan Local Elections: November 2022 (due)
India, State Elections in Gujarat: December 2022 (due)
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.
Eurasia This Week: September 23, 2021
Last Updated: October 26, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
September 23, 2021
A weekly review of news and analysis of elections in Eurasia, usually posted on Thursdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Upcoming Eurasia Elections
Georgia Local Elections: October 2, 2021
Georgia has scheduled local elections for October 2, 2021, and they are particularly important because – as a result of a deal to resolve the political crisis following last year’s parliamentary elections – they could spark new parliamentary elections if the ruling Georgian Dream party wins less than 43 percent of the proportional vote. However, the ruling Georgian Dream scrapped the agreement in July, raising concerns about Georgia’s political stability. Georgian Dream has re-iterated that it will not hold snap elections in 2022 even if it loses the local elections. The political climate is tense, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic fallout.
Most recently, an uptick in violence against the LGBT community and journalists, perpetrated by far-right and pro-Kremlin forces, has fueled the wider debate about where Georgia is going, both culturally and geopolitically. More
JAMnews (September 23, 2021): Media Development Fund: in 2020, number of anti-Western messages in Georgian media doubled
Civil.ge (September 23, 2021): ISFED Releases Second Interim Report on Pre-Election Environment
Giorgi Menabde, Jamestown Foundation (September 21, 2021): Mikheil Saakashvili Vows Return to Georgia
Civil.ge (September 17, 2021): Georgia’s 2021 Locals – Why They Matter
Agenda.ge (September 17, 2021): Ruling party criticizes interim election reports of local observing organisations
Giorgi Lomsadze, Eurasianet (September 16, 2021): Georgia’s ex-prime minister emerges as challenge to ruling party: Once the star of Georgian Dream, which has ruled the country for a decade, Giorgi Gakharia is now taking on his former allies and taking flak as a result.
Kyrgyzstan Parliamentary Elections Take 2: November 28, 2021
Kyrgyzstan will hold parliamentary elections on November 28, 2021 – a re-run of the parliamentary elections that took place in October 2020. Those elections and allegations of fraud led to political turmoil, followed by a snap presidential election in January 2021 and a constitutional referendum (alongside local elections) in April 2021. The new constitution, which passed, grants the president vastly expanded powers. Its critics have dubbed it the “Khanstitution.” The political climate was tense heading into the October 2020 parliamentary elections. It subsequently exploded following said elections. More
Soso Dzamukashvili, Emerging Europe (September 21, 2021): After third revolution, Kyrgyzstan drifts further away from democracy
Chris Rickleton, Eurasianet (September 20, 2021): Kyrgyzstan: A weakened parliament back up for grabs: The incumbent president will see more risks than opportunities in the next vote.
Past Eurasia Elections
Russia Parliamentary Elections: September 17-19, 2021
Russia held parliamentary elections September 17-19, 2021. Russian elections are neither free nor fair. Nonetheless, the opposition has been making some gains in recent regional elections, helped by opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s “Smart Vote,” a campaign of tactical voting, in which they developed a list of candidates the best chance of beating Vladimir Putin’s United Russia.
Consequently, the Kremlin launched a brutal crackdown on the proposition, including imprisoning Navalny. Candidates who have worked with Navalny or supported him were banned from the election. Only one genuine opposition party – the liberal Yabloko – was able to field candidates.
Moreover, international technology companies such as Google and Apple assisted the regime by removing apps associated with Navalny’s Smart Vote. More
Kadri Liik, European Council on Foreign Relations (September 23, 2021): Russia, elections, and the West: Ten years later
Vladimir Socor, Jamestown Foundation (September 23, 2021): Weak Response to Russian Duma Elections in Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia
Pavel K. Baev, Jamestown Foundation (September 20, 2021): Fake Elections and Russia’s Belligerent Foreign Policy
Oleksiy Goncharenko, Atlantic Council (September 20, 2021): Why we must not recognize Russia’s fraudulent election
Anton Troianovski and Ivan Nechepurenko, New York Times (September 19, 2021): Russian Election Shows Declining Support for Putin’s Party
Olivia Solon, NBC News (September 18, 2021): Big Tech grapples with Russian internet crackdown during election: Big Tech companies’ human rights policies have been stress-tested in the run-up to Russian parliamentary elections, as the Kremlin cracks down on a broad range of content.
Precious Chatterje-Doody and Ilya Yablokov, The Conversation (September 17, 2021): Russia’s state broadcaster RT going all-out to boost legitimacy of rigged Duma election
Holly Ellyatt, CNBC (September 17, 2021): Russia’s authoritarianism and political crackdown could get worse after weekend vote, experts say
Moldova Gagauzia Regional Elections: September 19, 2021, following Snap Parliamentary Elections: July 11, 2021
Moldova’s ethnic Turkish region of Gagauzia held elections on September 19, 2021. The region tends to be pro-Russia. Moldova in general is at the front lines of the geopolitical competition between Russia and democratic Europe.
Before that, Moldova held snap parliamentary elections on July 11, which pro-Europe center-right president Maia Sandu had been trying to call for months because in Moldova’s parliamentary system, a legislative majority is necessary to execute on any policy agenda. Prior to these elections, party had a clear majority in parliament (and Sandu’s allies were outnumbered by pro-Russian parties), leading to political instability. Sandu’s allies ended up winning in a landslide.
Sandu herself trounced pro-Kremlin leftist Igor Dodon, who had been the incumbent, in the November 2020 presidential election, after losing narrowly to him in 2016. More
Piotr Garciu, Institute for War and Peace Reporting (September 18, 2021): Moldova: Gagauzia Elections “Part of Corrupt System”: Analysts say that politicians pander to highly localised interests amid little transparency.
RFE/RL (September 22, 2021): At UN, Moldovan President Reiterates Call For Russian Troop Withdrawal
Turkmenistan Parliamentary Elections: March 28, 2021
Turkmenistan held parliamentary elections on March 28, 2021. Turkmenistan is a highly repressive state that has never held free or fair elections, and lacks a genuine political opposition. More
Bruce Pannier, RFE/RL (September 18, 2021): The Son Rises In Turkmenistan
Belarus Presidential Election: August 9, 2020
Belarus held a presidential election on August 9, 2020. In a vote widely deemed not free and not fair, incumbent Alexander Lukashenko declared victory. However, the opposition declared that Svetlana Tikhanovskaya had in fact won. Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have taken to the streets in protest to demand free and fair elections, even in the face of assault and arrest by security forces. Protests and political defiance continue. More
Stuart Williams, AFP (September 17, 2021): ‘No way out’ for Lukashenko: Belarus opposition chief
John Ruehl, The National Interest (September 17, 2021): Belarus Is Drifting Back to Russia
Sergey Satanovskiy, Roman Goncharenko, and Arina Polsik, DW (September 16, 2021): Will Russia swallow up Belarus?
Anastasia Mgaloblishvili, Institute for War and Peace Reporting (September 16, 2021): Fears Over Georgia-Belarus Security Agreement: “The agreement is very dangerous for peaceful, non-violent citizens who are escaping torture.”
Eurasia Elections Coming Up in 2021 and 2022
Georgia Local Elections: October 2, 2021
Kyrgyzstan Parliamentary Elections Take 2: November 28, 2021
Uzbekistan Presidential Election: October 24, 2021
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.