Africa-Press – Mauritius. <\/strong><\/span>In 2024, 18 elections took place on the African continent, from Senegal to South Africa, Algeria to Ghana, with the results an equal mix of democratic success stories and challenges still to overcome.<\/p>\nIn a historic year for democracy \u2013 with elections taking place in more than 50 countries around the world in 2024, bringing more than 1.5 billion people to the polls \u2013 the African continent was no exception.<\/p>\n
With 18 elections taking place, including Senegal\u2019s in March, South Africa\u2019s in May, Algeria\u2019s and Tunisia\u2019s in September and October respectively, and Ghana\u2019s in December, some regions, particularly in West Africa, saw significant progress through democracy, while others still face significant challenges.<\/p>\n
Lessons from West Africa<\/p>\n
Political scientist Mathias Hounkpe is the co-author of a comparative analysis of electoral commissions in West Africa, which saw elections in Senegal and Ghana this year.<\/p>\n
According to Hounkpe, both set examples of well-run and effective polls.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Senegal, the results reflect the ability of the institutions in the countries concerned to perform their roles properly, as well as the citizens\u2019 ability to organise themselves to protect democracy and safeguard the elections,\u201d he told RFI.<\/p>\n
Having been delayed by former president Macky Sall, the presidential election held in March saw Bassirou Diomaye Faye elected with 54 percent of the vote. The ruling Pastef party then managed a landslide majority in snap parliamentary elections in November.<\/p>\n
In Ghana in December, the presidential election marked the return to power of former president John Mahama.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe that Ghana could be an example for the entire sub-region,\u201d Hounkpe said. \u201cIt is the country where the electoral commission makes significant efforts to earn the trust of the citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThe loser conceded victory based on the results collected by the party itself. They didn\u2019t even wait for the provisional results to be announced by the commission. It was based on the results they gathered themselves. So, for me, it\u2019s a lesson for political parties in the sub-region.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alternance in South Africa and Botswana<\/p>\n
As in Ghana and Senegal, in November Botswana\u2019s President Mokgweetsi Masisi peacefully conceded defeat after preliminary results showed his ruling Botswana Democratic Party had lost its parliamentary majority, having been in power since the country\u2019s independence in 1966.<\/p>\n
The opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change party garnered more than half of the parliamentary seats, with its leader Duma Boko becoming the new president.<\/p>\n
Masisi concedes defeat in Botswana\u2019s presidential election<\/p>\n
Its neighbour to the south saw the African National Congress lose its majority for the first time since the end of apartheid 30 years ago, in South Africa\u2019s 29 May vote.<\/p>\n
While it remains the country\u2019s largest party, controlling 159 of the 400 seats in the new National Assembly, it agreed to form a coalition with its main opposition, the Democratic Alliance \u2013 all achieved peacefully.<\/p>\n
South Africa also took over the rotating presidency of the G20 and will host its summit in November 2025 before handing over to the United States \u2013 the first time an African nation has held the role.<\/p>\n
Somaliland\u2019s success<\/p>\n
While the Horn of Africa region continues to grapple with insecurity and the conflict in Ethiopia and Somalia, a presidential election was held in November in Somaliland, the breakaway region of Somalia, following weeks of uncertainty.<\/p>\n
The results saw the leader of the opposition, Mohamed Abdullahi of the Waddani party, also known as \u201cCirro\u201d, secure the presidency with 64 percent of the vote, defeating the incumbent candidate, Muse Bihi.<\/p>\n
Somaliland, on the northwest point of Somalia, unilaterally declared independence in 1991 and has been notably more stable than the rest of the country since then.<\/p>\n
Its latest election result represented peaceful political alternance for the sixth time in a row, attracting praise from political analysts and renewing hope for international recognition.<\/p>\n
With a new president, Somaliland seeks international recognition<\/p>\n
Human rights in North Africa<\/p>\n
However, other parts of the continent saw less success in terms of democracy.<\/p>\n
In Algeria and Tunisia, re-elected Presidents Tebboune and Saied received 95 and 89 percent of the votes respectively \u2013 amid low turnout in both countries.<\/p>\n
If Algeria has enjoyed economic and social stability over the past decade, human rights organisations including Amnesty have warned of a decrease in freedom of expression, assembly and religion, and women\u2019s, workers\u2019 and LGBT people\u2019s rights.<\/p>\n
In Tunisia, both the economy and the democracy have been weakened, and the country has cracked down on citizens\u2019 rights to dissent, free speech and peaceful protest.<\/p>\n
Mozambique\u2019s deadlock<\/p>\n
The highest court in Mozambique on 23 December confirmed the disputed election results of 9 October that extended the Frelimo party\u2019s 50-year grip on power, and have thrown the country in chaos.<\/p>\n
For the three months since the poll, the country has seen unprecedented protests and violent clashes. Frelimo leader Daniel Chapo\u2019s main challenger, exiled opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, maintains that the election was rigged.<\/p>\n
Postponed polls<\/p>\n
Malians were due to vote in February 2024, in an election that had been postponed from July 2022, but the country\u2019s military junta, which seized power in a coup in 2021, postponed the vote again \u201cfor technical reasons\u201d.<\/p>\n
Alexandre Didier Amani, from the NGO Tournons La Page, says the Sahel region has seen widespread regression since the coups that ousted the governments of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso \u2013 now united in a confederation under the label the Alliance of Sahel States.<\/p>\n
He told RFI: \u201cThe closure of civic spaces, silencing of voices and also abductions. We can see that there is a real regression in democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n
For More News And Analysis About Mauritius<\/span> Follow Africa-Press<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By: Melissa Chemam Africa-Press – Mauritius. In 2024, 18 elections took place on the African continent, from Senegal to South Africa, Algeria to Ghana, with the results an equal mix of democratic success stories and challenges still to overcome. In a historic year for democracy \u2013 with elections taking place in more than 50 countries […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":49911,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,6],"tags":[3846,1796,1452,241,1996,1666],"class_list":["post-49912","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-files","tag-eritrea","tag-kenya","tag-lesotho","tag-mauritius","tag-mozambique","tag-tanzania"],"yoast_head":"\n
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