You
may be right to call 2023 a “year of elections” because it promises to be a busy
year for African politics as some in Africa prepare
to hold their General Elections. The upcoming elections will include those of Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Gabon, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, Sudan and Africa's biggest, happening in Nigeria.
Nigeria
The
election train will first stop in Nigeria as former Lagos state governor Bola
Tinubu, People's Democratic Party's Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi battle it out
as frontrunners in the race to succeed President Buhari.
Nigeria's
February general election promises to be an interesting one as it has raised a
great deal of expectation among young voters who are eager to see the end of
President Muhammadu Buhari's rule. Particularly due to the fact that, the
country is currently grappling with economic downturn and heightened insecurity.
Sierra Leone
In
June, Sierra Leone will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections.
President Julius Maada Bio is expected to seek a second term. His Sierra Leone
People's Party will be hoping to retain its majority in the national assembly,
which has been threatened by rising discontent over the high cost of living.
Zimbabwe
The
third stop of the election train will be in Zimbabwe where President Emmerson
Mnangagwa will be hoping to overcome a new challenge by opposition leader
Nelson Chamisa whose Citizens Coalition for Change outfit has sought to
galvanize the opposition and to correct the mistakes of 2018.Liberia
As
though the twits and turns in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe won’t be
enough, in October, Africa's oldest republic will hold its presidential and
parliamentary polls in what will be a milestone for a country still recovering
from years of civil war and a devastating epidemic. President George Weah has
faced criticism for failing to tackle rampant corruption and for being away
from the country to watch the World Cup in Qatar while the country faced an economic
downturn.Gabon
Meanwhile,
President Ali Bongo looks set for re-election in Gabon after tacit endorsement
by members of his Gabonese Democratic Party. Despite suffering a stroke which
left him struggling to walk, the ruling party appears unwilling to retire its
63-year-old leader. The Bongo family has ruled over oil-rich Gabon since 1967.Madagascar
In
November, citizens in Madagascar will put their democratic system of governance
to test. 48-year-old President Andry Rajoelina is vying for his second
consecutive 5-year term in office. Rajoelina will be competing against
Ravalomanana and Hery Rajaonarimampianina, Madagascar’s President from 2014 to
2018. The two opposition figures are expected to form a united platform in the
effort to improve their prospects of defeating Rajoelina. The extent to which
they can mount a coordinated campaign will determine how seriously they can
challenge the incumbent.
Regardless
of which candidate emerges victorious from Madagascar’s election, strengthening
the mechanisms of popular participation, power sharing, and accountability
enabled by institutions like an independent legislature, judiciary, and media
will be the real priority of Madagascar’s democratic development.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Similarly, in December, the Democratic Republic of Congo will hold a general election to
choose a new president, national assembly and senate. In power since 2019,
President Felix Tshisekedi is expected to seek a second term. Having fallen out
with his predecessor whose support secured the presidency for him, Tshisekedi
will have to find new allies to face an opposition which has long been doing
its preps. Moise Katumbi has already declared intent to run. With the east of
the country embroiled in conflict, Tshisekedi might struggle to convince the
Congolese he's the change they seek.
