May 31, 2021
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Africa, usually posted on Mondays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
The Berbera Port in Somaliland, located strategically on the Gulf of Aden. Somaliland is holding parliamentary and local elections on May 31. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Lakm00 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Upcoming Africa Elections
Somaliland Parliamentary and Local Elections: May 31, 2021
Somaliland holds its long-overdue parliamentary and local elections for May 31, 2021. Somaliland has de facto but not internationally-recognized independence from Somalia, and has a much more developed democracy, with direct elections.
Somaliland also celebrates 30 years of de facto independence in May 2021. More
Harun Maruf and Khadar Mohamed Akule, Voice of America (May 31, 2021): Polls Open in Somaliland’s Local and Parliamentary Elections
Benedict Brook, New Zealand Herald (May 31, 2021): Independent but unrecognised nation of Somaliland heads to the polls
Peter Fabricius, Daily Maverick (May 30, 2021): Somaliland: The little country that could — if only the world would let it
Ethiopia General Elections: June 21, 2021
Ethiopia will hold general elections on June 21, 2021, after several postponements. These elections are taking place in the context of increasing ethnic violence that has reached crisis levels. More
Ronald Lwere Kato, Africanews (May 31, 2021): Why are protestors in Ethiopia and Mali waving Russian flags?
Rodney Muhumuza, AP (May 30, 2021): Ethiopians protest US sanctions over brutal Tigray war
Lynsey Addario and Rachel Hartigan, National Geographic (May 28, 2021): A grave humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Ethiopia. ‘I never saw hell before, but now I have.’
Maggie Fick, Reuters (May 28, 2021): In Abiy’s Ethiopia, press freedom flourished then fear returned
Antony Sguazzin, Bloomberg (May 28, 2021): Next Africa: Ethiopia’s Fall From Africa’s Darling to Pariah
Editorial Board, Financial Times (May 27, 2021): US is right to impose sanctions on Ethiopia: Abiy must stop the violence in Tigray and expel Eritrean troops as a first step
AFP (May 25, 2021): Five things to know about Ethiopia’s election
Somalia Indirect Presidential and Legislative Elections Election: By August 2021
Somalia was supposed to hold an indirect presidential election on February 8, 2021, following indirect parliamentary elections in December 2020. However, the elections have been delayed, and the 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 believe 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. On May 27, the parties reached a deal to hold indirect elections within 60 days, so it looks like they will take place this summer. More
UN News (May 29, 2021): UN Security Council welcomes Somali agreement on prompt and peaceful elections
Max Bearak, Washington Post (May 27, 2021): Somalia averts crisis as leaders agree to hold delayed elections within months
Zambia General Elections: August 12, 2021
Zambia has scheduled general elections for August 12, 2021. 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. However, there are fears that Lungu could try to rig the 2021 elections. More
Reuters (May 26, 2021): Zambian president bans campaign rallies to stem COVID-19 spread
Matthew Hill and Taonga Clifford Mitimingi, Bloomberg (May 26, 2021): Zambia Opposition Accuses President of Barring Election Campaign
South Africa Local Elections: October 27, 2021
South Africa will hold local elections on October 27, 2021. Voters will elect councils for all municipalities in each of the country’s nine provinces. More
Eunice Stoltz, Khaya Koko, and Lizeka Tandwa, Mail and Guardian (May 30, 2021): What does Covid-19 alert level 2 mean for elections, movement and gatherings
The Economist (May 30, 2021): An ex-president is on trial, but graft still blights South Africa
Nigeria, Anambra State Gubernatorial Election: November 6, 2021, followed by Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 23, 2023
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, holds elections in February 2023, but potential candidates have already begun jockeying for position. Since the return to civilian rule, vote-rigging and violence have plagued elections. While the 2015 polls – which handed the opposition its first-ever victory – were considered credible, international and Nigerian observers found that the 2019 polls fell short. The country is in the midst of several security crises.
Anambra State Election
Timothy Obiezu, Voice of America (May 31, 2021): Attacks on Election Offices in Nigeria Raise Concerns
Ronke Idowu, Channels TV (May 31, 2021): Despite Attacks In South-East, [Independent National Electoral Commission] Vows To Conduct Anambra Gov Election
Federal Elections
John Campbell and Robert I. Rotberg, Foreign Affairs (May 31, 2021): The Giant of Africa Is Failing: Only Nigeria Can Save Itself—but the United States Can Help
Nimi Princewill, Stephanie Busari and Amy Cassidy, CNN (May 31, 2021): More than 150 children are missing in latest Nigeria kidnapping raid
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.
Although Barrow had initially pledged to serve only one term, he plans to run for re-election, which has sparked controversy and protests. More
Sankulleh Gibril Janko, The Point (May 31, 2021): National voter registration commences, 1M Gambians expected to register
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 27, 2022 (following coup)
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. Nonetheless, the situation remains fluid.
AFP (June 1, 2021): Ecowas suspends Mali over second coup in nine months
Maïa de la Baume, Politico (May 30, 2021): Macron: France will pull troops out if Mali slides into ‘radical islamism’: France has 5,000 troops in the region to counter jihadists
Reuters (May 30, 2021): West African bloc says Mali must stick to 2022 election promise
BBC News (May 25, 2021): Mali’s coup leader Assimi Goïta seizes power again
Carley Petesch, AP (May 25, 2021): Key events in Mali that led to a coup and rule by junta
Kenya General Elections: August 9, 2022
Kenya is due to hold general elections on August 9, 2022. The last elections, in August 2017, were disputed, and the presidential poll was re-run in October 2017. President Uhuru Kenyatta won re-election after opposition leader Raila Odinga encouraged his supporters to boycott the re-run. Kenyan politics is highly polarized with a strong ethnic component.
Peter Muiruri, The Guardian (May 27, 2021): Kenya’s high court overturns president’s bid to amend constitution: Judges rule that Uhuru Kenyatta, who claimed BBI plan was to end country’s cycle of post-election violence, overstepped his authority and can be sued
Past Africa Elections
Republic of the Congo Presidential Election: March 20, 2021
The Republic of the Congo (sometimes called Congo-Brazzaville) held a presidential election on March 20, 2021. Denis Sassou Nguesso, who has been president almost continuously since 1979 and rules with an iron fist, won re-election. Elections have not been free or fair. More
Paul Melly, BBC (May 30, 2021): Africa’s political dynasties: How presidents groom their sons for power
Laudes Martial Mbon, AFP (May 28, 2021): Congo’s Sassou Nguesso turns to inner circle for new government
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
RFI (May 31, 2021): Provisional results of legislative elections in the Central African Republic: relative majority for the party in power
Sebastian Shukla, CNN (May 28, 2021): Russian mercenaries get the big-screen treatment. The reality behind the film is as murky as the plot
Côte d’Ivoire Parliamentary Elections: March 6, 2021 and Presidential Election: October 31, 2021
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 now plans to return home in June. More
Fraser Jackson, France24 (May 31, 2021 – video): Gbagbo plans to return to Ivory Coast on June 17 after ICC acquittal
Uganda General Elections: January 14, 2021
Uganda held presidential and legislative elections on January 14, 2021. President Yoweri Museveni has held power since 1986, but this time faced possibly his biggest challenge yet in the form of 37-year-old pop star Bobi Wine. Following the elections, the government launched a brutal crackdown on the opposition. More
Liam Taylor and Derrick Wandera, African Arguments (May 25, 2021): Mass abductions in Uganda: What we know and don’t know
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. More
Alfred Zacharia, The Citizen Tanzania (May 31, 2021): New dawn for parties after five years in political oblivion
Democratic Republic of the Congo General Elections: December 30, 2019
The DRC’s 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.
Romain Gras, Jeune Afrique (June 1, 2021 – in French): DRC: Félix Tshisekedi already campaigning for the 2023 presidential election
Kathryn Urban, Charged Affairs (May 26, 2021): Felix Tshisekedi’s Newly-Independent Agenda for the DRC: Modernizer or Strongman 2.0?
Regional Analysis
John Campbell and Nolan Quinn, Council on Foreign Relations (May 26, 2021): What’s Happening to Democracy in Africa?
Africa Elections Coming Up in 2021 and 2022
Somaliland Parliamentary and Local Elections: May 31, 2021
Ethiopia General Elections: June 21, 2021
Mauritius Local Elections: June 2021 (due – delay likely)
Sao Tome and Principe Presidential Election: July 18, 2021
Zambia Presidential, Legislative, and Local Elections: August 12, 2021
Somalia Indirect Presidential and Legislative Elections: By August 2021 (due, following agreement)
Cabo Verde Presidential Election: October 17, 2021
South Africa Municipal 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
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 27, 2022 (following coup)
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)
Sudan General Elections: Late 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.
Asia This Week: June 4, 2021
Last Updated: June 15, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
June 4, 2021
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Asia and the 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
Mongolia Presidential Election: June 9, 2021
Mongolia, a free though imperfect democracy, has scheduled its presidential election for June 9, 2021, following parliamentary elections in June 2020 and local elections in October 2020. The country is stable, and economic growth continues, largely driven by mining. However, concerns have recently been raised about freedom and democracy. More
Shannon Tiezzi, The Diplomat (June 1, 2021): Bolor Lkhaajav on Mongolia’s Messy Presidential Election
Japan General Elections: On or Before October 22, 2021
Japan is due to hold general elections by October 22, 2021, but they could happen earlier. In addition, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who replaced Shinzo Abe last year, faces a leadership contest in his conservative Liberal Democratic Party ahead of the general elections.
Elliot Waldman, World Politics Review (June 3, 2021): An Olympic-Size Headache for Japan’s Suga
Leika Kihara, Reuters (June 2, 2021): Japan PM Suga seen calling snap election after Tokyo Games – Asahi
Hong Kong Legislative Elections: December 19, 2021
Hong Kong plans to hold 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
AFP (June 5, 2021): Israeli hosting firm Wix removes Hong Kong democracy website after police order
John Ruwitch and Emily Feng, Hong Kong Free Press (June 4, 2021): Hong Kong’s Tiananmen Square Vigil Is Banned As Authorities Arrest Organizers
Zen Soo, AP (June 4, 2021): Hundreds gather near Hong Kong park despite vigil ban
Reuters (June 4, 2021): What people are saying about Tiananmen anniversary and vigil ban in Hong Kong
Paul Mozur, New York Times (June 3, 2021): In Hong Kong, Short-Lived Censorship Hints at a Deeper Standoff
Reuters (June 3, 2021): The impact of the national security law on Hong Kong
Candice Chau, Hong Kong Free Press (June 2, 2021): Pro-democracy party says it won’t take part in Hong Kong elections following overhaul ordered by Beijing
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 national parties – and PM Narendra Modi –
Divya Subramanian, The Nation (June 2, 2021): Is Mahua Moitra India’s AOC? The MP from West Bengal says she knows how to defeat Modi.
PTI (June 1, 2021): India’s election commission is confident of holding five state polls in 2022 on time, even as the pandemic continues to spread
Shruti Kapila, The Print (May 31, 2021): Every election now is a plebiscite on Modi. India’s party system is crumbling
Philippines Presidential Election: 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.
Bloomberg (June 3, 2021): Manny Pacquiao emerges as obstacle to Philippine President Duterte’s succession plans
Rob Jenkins, Just Security (June 3, 2021): A Pending Decision Pits Peace vs. Democracy in the Philippines: Is Duterte Right This Time in Seeking a Three-Year Delay for Bangsamoro Elections?
Andreo Calonzo, Bloomberg (May 31, 2021): Duterte Gets Party’s Push to Stay in Power After Term Ends
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.
Mu Sochua, The Diplomat (June 2, 2021): How the US Can Help Cambodians Restore Their Country’s Democracy
Radio Free Asia (June 2, 2021): Cambodia Opposition Hopeful For Election Bid Following Visit by US Diplomat
Shaun Turton, Nikkei Asia (June 1, 2021): US flags ‘serious concerns’ over Cambodia’s China-backed navy base
Malaysia Possible Snap Parliamentary Elections and Sarawak State Elections: To be called shortly after the COVID-19 state of emergency ends
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has indicated that he will call early general elections once the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Meanwhile, several of Malaysia’s states are due to hold elections in the next year. Specifically, Sarawak is due to hold state elections this summer, or very shortly after the federal government lifts the COVID-19 state of emergency.
The country’s politics have been turbulent since the historic defeat of UMNO – which had ruled since 1957 – in the 2018 elections. UMNO is back in power but hanging on by a thread. More
Chin Huat Wong, East Asia Forum (June 3, 2021): The splintering of Malaysia’s political spectrum
P Prem Kumar, Nikkei Asia (May 31, 2021): Malaysia locks down as vicious COVID wave fogs election timing
Past Asia/Pacific Elections
Samoa (Election re-run that had been set for May 21 was cancelled)
Samoa held general elections on April 9, 2021, and the post-election situation has been rather eventful. 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. Ultimately, both FAST and HRPP got equal numbers of seats, with an independent MP breaking the tie and agreeing to support FAST. However, the plot continues to thicken as HRPP was given an additional female MP since the party did not meet its quota for women.
As a result of the deadlock, the prime minister has called new elections for May 21, but a court decided to block the new elections, reinstate the results, and overturn the decision to give HRPP an additional MP. As a result, FAST was declared the winner of the elections.
These elections took place in the context of controversy over proposed changes to the county’s constitutional framework and judiciary, involving questions of Samoan identity, as well as potential geopolitical shifts away from China. More
Radio New Zealand (June 1, 2021): Samoa election crisis: Win for Fast party as court rejects appeal over extra seat
Joshua Mcdonald, The Diplomat (June 1, 2021): Pacific States Watch Samoa’s Political Turmoil Carefully, Quietly
Burma General Elections: November 8, 2020
Burma, also called Myanmar, held general elections on November 8, 2020. Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won in a landslide. However, on February 1, the military staged a coup, claiming election fraud (despite a lack of evidence). Protests against the coup continue. The military claims it will hold new elections will take place within two years. More
Radio Free Asia (June 4, 2021): Myanmar’s Shadow Civilian Government Pledges to Grant Rohingya Citizenship on Return to Power
The Irrawaddy (June 2, 2021): To Disband NLD, Myanmar Junta to Probe for ‘Violations’ of Parties’ Registration Pledges
Ralph Jennings, Voice of America (June 2, 2021): ASEAN Ignores Pressure to Censure Myanmar on Human Rights, Analysts Say
Tom O’Connor, Newsweek (June 1, 2021): China Faces World’s Longest Civil War in Neighboring Myanmar, A Crisis It Can’t Avoid
Asia/Pacific Elections Coming Up in 2021 and 2022
Mongolia Presidential Election: June 9, 2021
Macau Legislative Elections: September 12, 2021
Japan Parliamentary Elections: By October 2021 (snap elections possible)
Timor-Leste Municipal Elections: October 2021 (due)
Nepal Snap Parliamentary Elections: November 12 and 19, 2021
Tonga General Elections: By November 30, 2021
Hong Kong Legislative Council Elections: December 19, 2021
Sri Lanka Early Provincial Elections: Late 2021 (proposed)
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)
Cambodia Local Elections: June 5, 2022
Papua New Guinea Parliamentary Elections: June 2022 (due)
Nauru Parliamentary Elections: August 2022 (due)
India, State Elections in Himachal Pradesh: October 2022 (due)
Fiji Parliamentary 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: June 3, 2021
Last Updated: June 15, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
June 3, 2021
Your weekly roundup 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
Armenia Snap Parliamentary Elections: June 20, 2021
Armenia is holding snap parliamentary elections on June 20 in an effort to defuse a political crisis following a defeat in the recent Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Christian Mamo, Emerging Europe (June 1, 2021): Armenia’s fruitless search for allies on which it can count
Ani Mejlumyan, Eurasianet (June 1, 2021): Armenian top diplomats resign
Institute for War and Peace Reporting (June 1, 2021): Border Tensions Signal Fresh Danger for Armenia and Azerbaijan
RFE/RL (June 1, 2021): France’s Macron Calls For Azerbaijani Troop Pullout From ‘Armenian Territory’
Moldova Snap Parliamentary Elections: July 11, 2021
Moldova is holding snap parliamentary elections on July 11, which pro-Europe center-right president Maia Sandu had been trying to call for months. Sandu trounced pro-Kremlin leftist Igor Dodon, who had been the incumbent, in the November 2020 presidential election However, no party currently has a clear majority in parliament (and Sandu’s allies are outnumbered by pro-Russian parties). The resulting political instability was reaching crisis levels. More
Andrei Chirileasa, Romania-Insider.com (May 31, 2021): Radical Romanian party to run in Moldova’s July 11 elections as well
Madalin Necsutu, Balkan Insight (May 28, 2021): Moldova President Accuses Police of Pursuing Family, Allies
Russia Parliamentary Elections: By September 19, 2021
Russia is due to hold parliamentary elections by September 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 has launched a brutal crackdown on the opposition, including imprisoning Navalny. More
Svetlana Erpyleva and Oleg Zhuravlev, openDemocracy (June 3, 2021): What’s new about Russia’s new protests?
Voice of America (June 2, 2021): Russian Parliament Passes Bill Barring Navalny Associates from Running in Elections
AP (June 1, 2021): Russian authorities ramp up pressure on opposition ahead of parliamentary elections
Mary Ellen Cagnassola, Newsweek (June 1, 2021): Russian Activist Mikhail Khodorkovsky Says Kremlin Trying to ‘Sanitize’ Politics Ahead of Elections
Samuel Chamberlain, New York Post (May 30, 2021): Steven Seagal joins pro-Putin party in Russia
Georgia Local Elections: October 2021 (due)
Georgia is due to hold local elections in October 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. The political climate is tense, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic fallout. More
Civil.ge (June 3, 2021): U.S. Senators Talk Russian Occupation, Georgia’s Western Integration, Reforms
Christian Mamo, Emerging Europe (June 3, 2021): Georgian politics set for shake up as former PM launches new party
JAMNews (June 1, 2021): Ex-PM Gakharia launches his own political party
RFE/RL (May 30, 2021): Georgia’s Main Opposition Ends Monthslong Boycott Of Parliament
Kyrgyzstan Parliamentary Elections Take 2: Fall 2021 (expected)
Kyrgyzstan’s leader has proposed re-running 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
Ayzirek Imanaliyeva, Eurasianet (June 3, 2021): Kyrgyzstan: Japarov plays politics with detentions
Lillian Posner, Atlantic Council (June 2, 2021): The gathering threat to the US in Kyrgyzstan
Past Eurasia Elections
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 continue. More
BBC (June 2, 2021): Belarus bans most citizens from going abroad
Ray Furlong, RFE/RL (June 2, 2021): Who Is The Man Who Cut His Own Throat In A Belarusian Court?
Brian Whitmore, Atlantic Council (June 2, 2021): Putin’s Belarus strategy: Arsonist and firefighter?
Peggy Hollinger, Financial Times (June 2, 2021): Belarus incident threatens aviation’s culture of safety
Graeme Wood, The Atlantic (May 28, 2021): The Ryanair Hijacking Pierced the Delusion of Flight: Flying over a foreign country has, until now, felt to most people like teleporting past it.
Alana Wise, NPR (May 28, 2021): White House Slaps Sanctions On Belarus Following Brazen Arrest Of Opposition Figure
Stephanie Van Den Berg, Reuters (May 28, 2021): Nationwide strike planned in Belarus, opposition leader says
Eurasia Elections in 2021 and 2022
Armenia Snap Parliamentary Elections: June 20, 2021
Moldova Snap Parliamentary Elections: July 11, 2021
Russia Parliamentary Elections: By September 19, 2021
Georgia Local Elections: October 2021 (due)
Kyrgyzstan Parliamentary Elections Take 2: Fall 2021 (expected)
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.
Europe This Week: June 2, 2021
Last Updated: June 15, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
June 2, 2021
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Europe, usually posted on Wednesdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Upcoming Europe Elections
Latvia Municipal Elections: June 5, 2021
Latvia holds municipal elections on June 5, 2021, with the exception of Riga, which held a snap city council election last year, and two other cities. These are Latvia’s first local elections since the county enacted regional administrative forms that significantly reduced the number of local government bodies, from 119 to 42.
Latvia has been a democracy since regaining independence in 1991 (of note, none of the three Baltic nations ever actually recognized the Soviet occupation), and is a member of NATO and the European Union. These elections are happening in a heated geopolitical climate.
Last year’s Riga snap elections surprised political observers by knocking, Harmony, the party that Latvia’s Russian community supports, from the top spot. Harmony has historically been strong in Riga, the capital, but last year’s Riga elections surprised political observers by knocking Harmony down from the top spot. Instead, an alliance of the liberal Development/For! party and social democrat environmentalist Progressives won the most seats and formed the local government.
In addition, parliamentary elections are due in October 2022. More
LETA (June 2, 2021): Up to four ministers may be replaced in the Latvian government
Silvija Smagare, LSM (June 1, 2021 – in Latvian): 10 lists are fighting for power in the “unstable” twilight mayor in Daugavpils
Germany Saxony-Anhalt State Elections: June 5, 2021, and Bundestag Elections: September 26, 2021 (plus other state elections throughout the year)
Germany is due to hold several sets of elections next year, culminating in the September 26, 2021 federal parliamentary elections that will determine who succeeds Angela Merkel as chancellor. Additionally, five states hold elections. The year 2021 is thus a “Superwahljahr” (Super election year) in Germany.
Following an intense fight, CDU and CSU have nominated CDU leader Armin Laschet to be their candidate for chancellor. He defeated the Bavarian Markus Söder, who is more popular with voters. Meanwhile, over the past year, the Greens have taken SPD’s place as the main center-left party. They have portrayed themselves as responsible and mainstream, and have governed as such when in state governments. Consequently, Annalena Baerbock could become the first Green head of government in the history of the world. However, despite his unpopularity, Armin Laschet remains the favorite to succeed Merkel as chancellor. Nonetheless, German voters have a real choice and Baerbock, who comes from the party’s “realo” (moderate) wing as opposed to the “fundi” (radical) wing – has an actual shot at the top job. More
AFP (June 3, 2021): Crucial test for Merkel’s conservatives in Germany regional vote
Erika Solomon, Financial Times (June 2, 2021): Germany’s Greens lose their lustre as election heats up: Rivals seize on party missteps to beat back a Green lead in the polls
Ben Knight, DW (June 1, 2021): Germany’s far-right AfD poised to spoil narrative of Green party rise
Constanze Stelzenmüller, Brookings Institution (June 1, 2021): East German political winds ruffle feathers in Berlin
Imanuel Marcus, Berlin Spectator (May 30, 2021): Saxony-Anhalt: Can Reiner Haseloff Keep the Right-Wing Extremists at Bay?
France Regional Elections: June 13, 2021 and Presidential Election: April 2022 (due)
France holds regional elections on June 13, 2021, with a second round on June 20. These come ahead of next year’s presidential and legislative elections, where President Emmanuel Macron potentially faces a formidable challenge from the far-right. More
AFP (June 2, 2021): Macron’s ‘grand tour’ of France gets underway ahead of regional elections
James Harrington, TheLocal.fr (June 2, 2021): EXPLAINED: The very precise rules of French election billboards
Rebecca Rosman, Business Insider (May 27, 2021): French generals wrote a letter warning of ‘civil war.’ It was ignored — until the far-right saw an opportunity
Finland Local Elections: June 13, 2021 (postponed from April)
Finland is holding municipal elections on June 13, 2021, delayed from April due to COVID-19. Following the 2019 parliamentary elections, a left-leaning coalition came into government nationally. More
YLE (May 31, 2021): More than 10% of Finland cast early votes in local elections
Bulgaria Snap Parliamentary Elections: July 11, 2021
Bulgaria is holding fresh parliamentary elections on July 11 after no party formed a government following the April 4 elections. In those polls, PM Boyko Borissov’s center-right GERB won the most seats, but lost ground and failed to win a majority. New parties running against the establishment did surprisingly well – in fact, a party called There Is Such a People, led by TV star Stanislav Trifonov, came in second and ruled out forming a coalition with GERB. Trifonov’s main platform was anti-corruption – indeed, corruption was the biggest issue in the election. More
Tsvetelia Tsolova and Daphne Psaledakis, Reuters (June 2, 2021): U.S. blacklists 3 Bulgarians, 64 companies over corruption
Boryana Dzhambazova and Lili Bayer, Politico (June 2, 2021): US sanctions top Bulgarians for graft. EU does zilch.
Aleksandar Malinov, New Eastern Europe (May 31, 2021): Stuck in post-election limbo, Sofia holds the key to developments in the Black Sea and the Balkans
Austria, Upper Austria State and Municipal Elections: September 26, 2021
Austria’s Upper Austria (whose capital is Linz, home of the Linzertorte cake) state holds elections in September.
Austria’s federal government fell in a no-confidence vote – the first in Austria’s history – in May 2019 nfollowing the “Ibiza-gate” scandal involving the far-right Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), which had been part of the coalition headed by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of the center-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP). FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache was filmed on the Spanish island of Ibiza offering state contracts in exchange for money to a woman who claimed to be the niece of a Russian oligarch. Subsequent snap elections gave ÖVP the most seats, and the FPÖ saw a 10 percent loss in its vote share. Ultimately, ÖVP formed a coalition with the Greens, and Kurz once again became chancellor.
Austria is due to hold a presidential election by April 2022, but the role is largely ceremonial, with the chancellor instead holding most executive power.
James Franey, DW (June 1, 2021): Austrian far-right leader Norbert Hofer resigns as FPÖ chief
Hungary Parliamentary Elections: By Spring 2022 (or earlier)
Hungary is due to hold parliamentary elections by Spring 2022, although snap elections are possible. Prime Minster Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party has become increasingly authoritarian, to the concern of many both in Hungary and in the international community. A number of opposition parties plan to hold a primary to field a single candidate for prime minister. Gergely Karácsony, the liberal mayor of Budapest, is seen as a leading candidate to challenge Orbán.
Rhonda Kwan, Hong Kong Free Press (June 3, 2021): Budapest names street ‘Free Hong Kong’ in protest over new Chinese university campus
Hungary Today (June 2, 2021): Opposition Launches Primary Election Website
Vlagyiszlav Makszimov, Euractiv (May 31, 2021): Formerly far-right party Jobbik backs leftists in Budapest in opposition primaries
Tim Gosling, Al Jazeera (May 28, 2021): Plans for a Chinese university in Hungary fuel concerns
Patrick Wintour, The Guardian (May 27, 2021): Viktor Orbán to become second EU leader hosted at No 10 after Brexit
Slovenia Parliamentary Elections: By June 5, 2022 – snap elections possible
Slovenia is due to hold elections in June 2022, but snap elections are possible. The current government is a conservative minority coalition headed by populist Janez Janša. It came to power in January 2020 after the center-left minority government of Marjan Šarec collapsed.
Gasper Andrinek, DW (June 2, 2021): Slovenia’s STA — a symbol of resistance within the country
Reuters (May 28, 2021 – video): Thousands rally in Slovenia for snap elections
AP (May 28, 2021): Thousands rally against Slovenian PM ahead of EU presidency
Past Europe Elections
Cyprus Parliamentary Elections: May 30, 2021
Cyprus held parliamentary elections on May 23, 2021. The center-right DISY – currently in the majority – maintained its majority, defeating the center-left AKEL, the main opposition party (with a number of smaller parties also competing). Notably, the far-right ELAM doubled its vote share from the 2016 elections, winning 6.8 percent of the vote.
Cyprus is a presidential system (the only full presidential system in the EU), so these elections function as more of a test for the parties ahead of the 2023 presidential election. The current president is President Nicos Anastasiades (from DISY). This is all happening in the context of the ongoing Eastern Mediterranean crisis. More
Evie Andreou, Cyprus Mail (June 2, 2021): Akel starts soul-searching process after poor showing in elections
Michele Kambas, Reuters (May 30, 2021): Cyprus sees nationalists gain in parliament vote
Helena Smith, The Guardian (May 30, 2021): Cyprus election: far-right party linked to Greek neo-Nazis doubles vote share
Croatia Local Elections: May 16 and 30, 2021
Croatia held local elections for on May 16, and with runoffs on May 30, 2021. These elections got a bit of a shakeup when Milan Bandic, the mayor of Zagreb, died in February after a combined 20 years in office (according to some reports, he was the world’s longest-serving mayor). Although Bandic had a devoted following, he was also controversial, and embroiled in a number of scandals. A former communist, he joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) when Croatia began holding multiparty elections in 1990, but later broke off to start his own party.
Anja Vladisavljevic, Balkan Insight (May 31, 2021): Green-Left Candidate Wins Zagreb Mayoralty, Promises Change
Joe Orovic, Euronews (May 27, 2021): In Zagreb, an election pits a far-right pop singer against an environmentalist… and a dead man
Europe Elections in 2021 and 2022
Latvia Local Elections: June 5, 2021
Germany, Saxony-Anhalt State Elections: June 6, 2021
Finland Municipal Elections: June 13, 2021
France Regional Elections: June 13, 2021
Bulgaria Fresh Parliamentary Elections: July 11, 2021
Norway Parliamentary Elections: September 13, 2021
Iceland Parliamentary Elections: September 25, 2021
Germany Bundestag Elections, plus state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and probably Thuringia: September 26, 2021
Austria, Upper Austria State and Municipal Elections: September 26, 2021
Czech Republic Parliamentary Elections: October 8-9, 2021
Italy Municipal Elections, plus regional elections in Calabria: October 10-11, 2021
Estonia Local Elections: October 17, 2021
North Macedonia Local Elections: October 2021 (due)
Portugal Local Elections: October 2021 (due)
Bulgaria Presidential Election: October/November 2021 (due)
Denmark Regional and Municipal Elections: November 16, 2021
Kosovo Local Elections: Due in 2021
Serbia Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: March/April 2022
France Presidential Election: April 2022 (due)
Austria Presidential Election: April 2022 (due)
Hungary Parliamentary Elections: April 2022 (due)
Slovenia Parliamentary Elections: By June 5, 2022
Malta Parliamentary Elections: June 2022 (due – snap elections possible)
Sweden Parliamentary Elections: September 11, 2022
Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidential and Legislative Elections: October 2022 (due)
Latvia Parliamentary Elections: October 2022 (due)
Slovenia Presidential Election: October/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: June 1, 2021
Last Updated: June 10, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
June 1, 2021
Your weekly roundup 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
Algeria Snap Legislative Elections: June 12, 2021, followed by local elections later this year
Algeria will hold snap elections on June 12, 2021, following more than two years of protests by the Hirak movement. However, the government’s election plan has not actually satisfied the Hirak, who continue to take to the streets and have decided to boycott the elections. The absence of the Hirak, who are mostly secular, from the elections has paved the way for Islamist parties to become the main opposition.
Abdelkader Cheref, The New Arab (May 26, 2021): Algeria’s Hirak movement returns in force ahead of elections
Iran Presidential and Local Elections: June 18, 2021
Iran has scheduled its next presidential election for June 18, 2021, with concurrent local elections. While Iran is far from a free country, and the elections are largely rigged, voters do have a degree of choice. More
Pouria Mahrouyan, BBC (June 1, 2021): Iran’s presidential election: Four ways it matters
Reuters (June 1, 2021): Iran says nuclear talks not at impasse, but difficult issues remain
Najmeh Bozorgmehr, Financial Times (May 31, 2021): ‘Freedom is not a western commodity’: Inside Iranian reformers’ battle for change
Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times (May 31, 2021): Iran Clears Way for Hard-line Judiciary Chief to Become President: Potential rivals to Ebrahim Raisi, Ayatollah Khamenei’s favored choice, were barred from the June 18 election, and the remaining candidates do not present a serious challenge.
Ian Bremmer, Time (May 29, 2021): Who Will Be Iran’s Next President and What Does It Mean for the Region
Shabnam von Hein, DW (May 29, 2021): Iranian hardliners aim for total control: The Guardian Council has barred establishment candidate Ali Larijani from the presidential race. That says a lot about Iran’s political culture.
Iraq Early Parliamentary Elections: October 10, 2021 (tentative) and Provincial Elections (due)
Iraq’s government had proposed holding snap parliamentary elections on June 6, 2021, one year early, following the demands of protesters. However, the tentative date has been pushed to October. 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. More
Edith M. Lederer, AP (May 27, 2021): UN authorizes monitors for Iraq’s elections in October
James Reinl, The National UAE (May 27, 2021): UN expands Iraq team amid fears of election violence
Stratfor (May 27, 2021): Protests Back Iraq’s New Government Into a Corner
Al Jazeera (May 27, 2021): US condemns violent security crackdown on Iraqi protesters
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
Al Jazeera (May 29, 2021): Will Libya commander Haftar run in December’s election? The renegade military commander is holding rallies and polishing his image ahead of polls, according to Libya observers.
Sean Matthews, Al Jazeera (May 28, 2021): Chairman of Libya’s High Council of State talks elections, Turkey
Lebanon Parliamentary Elections: May 2022 (due
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.
Salma Abdelaziz, CNN (May 28, 2021): ‘Mafias’ and ‘militias’ have brought Lebanon to its knees, activists say
Palestinian Authority Presidential and Legislative Elections: Long overdue, postponed indefinitely
The Palestinian Authority 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.
Since the announcement of the delay, the conflict between Hamas and Israel reignited. Following 11 days of fighting, the parties reached a ceasefire on May 20. More
Ghaith al-Omari, World Politics Review (May 27, 2021): Palestinian Politics Are More Divided Than Ever
Past Middle East Elections
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
Ali Aljasem, The Conversation (May 28, 2021): Syrian election: Bashar al-Assad wins with 95% of votes as world watches in disbelief
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, so if anyone wants to form a government, they will need to get creative. Netanyahu, whose conservative Likud party won the most seats, had the first chance to form a coalition, but he failed.
Yair Lapid from the centrist Yesh Atid is currently trying to form a coalition, but a fifth election remains a possibility. More
Times of Israel (June 1, 2021): A political prince vs. a bereaved mother: MKs to elect Israel’s 11th president
Miriam Berger, Washington Post (June 1, 2021): What to know about Naftali Bennett, the Israeli politician who could succeed Benjamin Netanyahu
Michael Hauser Tov and Jack Khoury, Haaaretz (June 1, 2021): Islamist Party Leader Says Will Be ‘Part of the Coalition’ as Lapid’s Government Deadline Nears
Josef Federman, AP (May 30, 2021): Netanyahu could lose PM job as rivals attempt to join forces
Middle East Elections Coming Up in 2021 and 2022
Algeria Snap Parliamentary Elections: June 10, 2021
Iran Presidential and Local Elections: June 18, 2021
Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Elections: June/July 2021 (proposed – date not set yet)
Jordan Local and Gubernatorial Elections: August 2021 (due)
Morocco Legislative, Provincial, and Local Elections: September 8, 2021
Iraq Parliamentary Elections: October 10, 2021
Qatar Shura Council Elections: October 2021 (proposed)
Libya Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: December 24, 2021
Lebanon Parliamentary Elections: May 2022 (due)
Bahrain Parliamentary Elections: November 2022 (due)
Algeria Local Elections: November 2022 (due – earlier elections possible)
Egypt Local Elections: Due and discussed, but not scheduled
Oman Municipal 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: May 31, 2021
Last Updated: June 10, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
May 31, 2021
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Africa, usually posted on Mondays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Upcoming Africa Elections
Somaliland Parliamentary and Local Elections: May 31, 2021
Somaliland holds its long-overdue parliamentary and local elections for May 31, 2021. Somaliland has de facto but not internationally-recognized independence from Somalia, and has a much more developed democracy, with direct elections.
Somaliland also celebrates 30 years of de facto independence in May 2021. More
Harun Maruf and Khadar Mohamed Akule, Voice of America (May 31, 2021): Polls Open in Somaliland’s Local and Parliamentary Elections
Benedict Brook, New Zealand Herald (May 31, 2021): Independent but unrecognised nation of Somaliland heads to the polls
Peter Fabricius, Daily Maverick (May 30, 2021): Somaliland: The little country that could — if only the world would let it
Ethiopia General Elections: June 21, 2021
Ethiopia will hold general elections on June 21, 2021, after several postponements. These elections are taking place in the context of increasing ethnic violence that has reached crisis levels. More
Ronald Lwere Kato, Africanews (May 31, 2021): Why are protestors in Ethiopia and Mali waving Russian flags?
Rodney Muhumuza, AP (May 30, 2021): Ethiopians protest US sanctions over brutal Tigray war
Lynsey Addario and Rachel Hartigan, National Geographic (May 28, 2021): A grave humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Ethiopia. ‘I never saw hell before, but now I have.’
Maggie Fick, Reuters (May 28, 2021): In Abiy’s Ethiopia, press freedom flourished then fear returned
Antony Sguazzin, Bloomberg (May 28, 2021): Next Africa: Ethiopia’s Fall From Africa’s Darling to Pariah
Editorial Board, Financial Times (May 27, 2021): US is right to impose sanctions on Ethiopia: Abiy must stop the violence in Tigray and expel Eritrean troops as a first step
AFP (May 25, 2021): Five things to know about Ethiopia’s election
Somalia Indirect Presidential and Legislative Elections Election: By August 2021
Somalia was supposed to hold an indirect presidential election on February 8, 2021, following indirect parliamentary elections in December 2020. However, the elections have been delayed, and the 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 believe 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. On May 27, the parties reached a deal to hold indirect elections within 60 days, so it looks like they will take place this summer. More
UN News (May 29, 2021): UN Security Council welcomes Somali agreement on prompt and peaceful elections
Max Bearak, Washington Post (May 27, 2021): Somalia averts crisis as leaders agree to hold delayed elections within months
Zambia General Elections: August 12, 2021
Zambia has scheduled general elections for August 12, 2021. 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. However, there are fears that Lungu could try to rig the 2021 elections. More
Reuters (May 26, 2021): Zambian president bans campaign rallies to stem COVID-19 spread
Matthew Hill and Taonga Clifford Mitimingi, Bloomberg (May 26, 2021): Zambia Opposition Accuses President of Barring Election Campaign
South Africa Local Elections: October 27, 2021
South Africa will hold local elections on October 27, 2021. Voters will elect councils for all municipalities in each of the country’s nine provinces. More
Eunice Stoltz, Khaya Koko, and Lizeka Tandwa, Mail and Guardian (May 30, 2021): What does Covid-19 alert level 2 mean for elections, movement and gatherings
The Economist (May 30, 2021): An ex-president is on trial, but graft still blights South Africa
Nigeria, Anambra State Gubernatorial Election: November 6, 2021, followed by Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 23, 2023
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, holds elections in February 2023, but potential candidates have already begun jockeying for position. Since the return to civilian rule, vote-rigging and violence have plagued elections. While the 2015 polls – which handed the opposition its first-ever victory – were considered credible, international and Nigerian observers found that the 2019 polls fell short. The country is in the midst of several security crises.
Anambra State Election
Timothy Obiezu, Voice of America (May 31, 2021): Attacks on Election Offices in Nigeria Raise Concerns
Ronke Idowu, Channels TV (May 31, 2021): Despite Attacks In South-East, [Independent National Electoral Commission] Vows To Conduct Anambra Gov Election
Federal Elections
John Campbell and Robert I. Rotberg, Foreign Affairs (May 31, 2021): The Giant of Africa Is Failing: Only Nigeria Can Save Itself—but the United States Can Help
Nimi Princewill, Stephanie Busari and Amy Cassidy, CNN (May 31, 2021): More than 150 children are missing in latest Nigeria kidnapping raid
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.
Although Barrow had initially pledged to serve only one term, he plans to run for re-election, which has sparked controversy and protests. More
Sankulleh Gibril Janko, The Point (May 31, 2021): National voter registration commences, 1M Gambians expected to register
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 27, 2022 (following coup)
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. Nonetheless, the situation remains fluid.
AFP (June 1, 2021): Ecowas suspends Mali over second coup in nine months
Maïa de la Baume, Politico (May 30, 2021): Macron: France will pull troops out if Mali slides into ‘radical islamism’: France has 5,000 troops in the region to counter jihadists
Reuters (May 30, 2021): West African bloc says Mali must stick to 2022 election promise
BBC News (May 25, 2021): Mali’s coup leader Assimi Goïta seizes power again
Carley Petesch, AP (May 25, 2021): Key events in Mali that led to a coup and rule by junta
Kenya General Elections: August 9, 2022
Kenya is due to hold general elections on August 9, 2022. The last elections, in August 2017, were disputed, and the presidential poll was re-run in October 2017. President Uhuru Kenyatta won re-election after opposition leader Raila Odinga encouraged his supporters to boycott the re-run. Kenyan politics is highly polarized with a strong ethnic component.
Peter Muiruri, The Guardian (May 27, 2021): Kenya’s high court overturns president’s bid to amend constitution: Judges rule that Uhuru Kenyatta, who claimed BBI plan was to end country’s cycle of post-election violence, overstepped his authority and can be sued
Past Africa Elections
Republic of the Congo Presidential Election: March 20, 2021
The Republic of the Congo (sometimes called Congo-Brazzaville) held a presidential election on March 20, 2021. Denis Sassou Nguesso, who has been president almost continuously since 1979 and rules with an iron fist, won re-election. Elections have not been free or fair. More
Paul Melly, BBC (May 30, 2021): Africa’s political dynasties: How presidents groom their sons for power
Laudes Martial Mbon, AFP (May 28, 2021): Congo’s Sassou Nguesso turns to inner circle for new government
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
RFI (May 31, 2021): Provisional results of legislative elections in the Central African Republic: relative majority for the party in power
Sebastian Shukla, CNN (May 28, 2021): Russian mercenaries get the big-screen treatment. The reality behind the film is as murky as the plot
Côte d’Ivoire Parliamentary Elections: March 6, 2021 and Presidential Election: October 31, 2021
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 now plans to return home in June. More
Fraser Jackson, France24 (May 31, 2021 – video): Gbagbo plans to return to Ivory Coast on June 17 after ICC acquittal
Uganda General Elections: January 14, 2021
Uganda held presidential and legislative elections on January 14, 2021. President Yoweri Museveni has held power since 1986, but this time faced possibly his biggest challenge yet in the form of 37-year-old pop star Bobi Wine. Following the elections, the government launched a brutal crackdown on the opposition. More
Liam Taylor and Derrick Wandera, African Arguments (May 25, 2021): Mass abductions in Uganda: What we know and don’t know
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. More
Alfred Zacharia, The Citizen Tanzania (May 31, 2021): New dawn for parties after five years in political oblivion
Democratic Republic of the Congo General Elections: December 30, 2019
The DRC’s 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.
Romain Gras, Jeune Afrique (June 1, 2021 – in French): DRC: Félix Tshisekedi already campaigning for the 2023 presidential election
Kathryn Urban, Charged Affairs (May 26, 2021): Felix Tshisekedi’s Newly-Independent Agenda for the DRC: Modernizer or Strongman 2.0?
Regional Analysis
John Campbell and Nolan Quinn, Council on Foreign Relations (May 26, 2021): What’s Happening to Democracy in Africa?
Africa Elections Coming Up in 2021 and 2022
Somaliland Parliamentary and Local Elections: May 31, 2021
Ethiopia General Elections: June 21, 2021
Mauritius Local Elections: June 2021 (due – delay likely)
Sao Tome and Principe Presidential Election: July 18, 2021
Zambia Presidential, Legislative, and Local Elections: August 12, 2021
Somalia Indirect Presidential and Legislative Elections: By August 2021 (due, following agreement)
Cabo Verde Presidential Election: October 17, 2021
South Africa Municipal 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
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 27, 2022 (following coup)
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)
Sudan General Elections: Late 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.