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AFRICA GEARS UP FOR A WAVE OF ELECTIONS IN 2025

AFRICA GEARS UP FOR A WAVE OF ELECTIONS IN 2025
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Faith Nyasuguta

In 2025, the African continent will witness a significant wave of elections, with over ten nations, including Tanzania, Malawi, Cameroon, Gabon, and Cote d’Ivoire, preparing to head to the polls. This series of elections is expected to shape the politics of the continent and influence its trajectory for years to come.

Tanzania: A Test of Reforms

In the East African Community, Tanzania will hold its presidential elections in October 2025. This will be the first time President Samia Suluhu Hassan faces the electorate since the death of Tanzania’s 5th president, John Magufuli. President Hassan, who succeeded Magufuli, has introduced several reforms aimed at opening up the political and civic spaces. These include allowing public gatherings that had been banned by her predecessor and reviewing election laws to permit public rallies, which were banned in 2016.

President Hassan set up a task force on political reforms that recommended restructuring the electoral process. While these reforms have benefited the two leading opposition parties, Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) and ACT-Wazalendo, internal cracks within Chadema could work in favor of President Hassan. The ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), has been at the helm since independence and remains strong at the grassroots level.

Samia Suluhu Hassan /Daily News/

Malawi: A Battle for Stability

Malawi’s former president, Peter Mutharika, is set to challenge the incumbent, President Lazarus Chakwera, in the upcoming September elections. The 84-year-old Mutharika, who governed Malawi for six years, had previously indicated that he would not run for office again.

Last year, Mutharika was chosen to lead the main opposition party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), into the 2025 presidential election. This decision comes after Mutharika’s defeat to Chakwera in 2020, in a re-run ordered by the country’s Constitutional Court following the annulment of the previous year’s election.

President Chakwera’s ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) will need to defend its infrastructure record at the polls. Additionally, Mutharika’s age could become a key campaign issue as the election approaches.

The upcoming elections will be a critical test for the current administration’s ability to maintain stability and address the country’s economic challenges. 

The opposition parties are expected to put up a strong fight, calling for greater transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

Cameroon: A Struggle for Change

Paul Biya /BlackPast/

In Cameroon, the presidential elections will be closely watched as the country grapples with ongoing conflict and political unrest. President Paul Biya, who has been in power since 1982, is expected to seek re-election. 

The opposition parties are calling for democratic reforms and an end to the violence that has plagued the country. The elections will be a crucial moment for Cameroon’s future, with the potential to bring about significant change.

Gabon: A Test of Leadership

Gabon, currently under the leadership of a military transitional council, is set to hold presidential elections in March this year, as announced by junta leader Brice Oliqui Nguema. The country approved a new constitution last year, which limits the president’s tenure to two seven-year terms, paving the way for these elections.

General Nguema, who was sworn in as interim leader in September 2023 after his junta ousted President Ali Bongo, may likely run for president. This move could potentially reintegrate Gabon into the African Union, from which it has been isolated. The coup that brought Nguema to power was the eighth in West and Central Africa since 2020.

General Nguema / Facebook/

This upcoming election marks a significant moment for Gabon as it navigates its political future under the new constitutional framework.

Cote d’Ivoire: A Quest for Unity

Cote d’Ivoire will be holding presidential elections in 2025, with the focus on achieving national unity and reconciliation

On Thursday, President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire expressed his desire to continue serving as president. However, he emphasized that his party has not yet made a formal decision on its candidate for this year’s election. Ouattara, 83, was re-elected for a contested third term in 2020.

The country has experienced political violence and division in recent years, and the upcoming elections will be a critical moment for the nation’s future. The ruling party and the opposition are expected to engage in a fierce battle for power, with the hope of bringing about lasting peace and stability.

Other Nations in the Spotlight

In addition to these five countries, several other African nations are set to hold elections in 2025. Seychelles, Togo, and the Central African Republic will hold general elections, while Burundi, Comoros, and Egypt will hold parliamentary elections. These elections will be pivotal in shaping the politics of the continent and determining the direction of political, economic, and social development in these countries.

Election Dates

/Courtesy/

Sunday, January 12: Comoros holds legislative elections.

Thursday, June 5: Burundi holds legislative elections.

Tuesday, September 16: National elections take place in Malawi.

Saturday, September 27: National elections take place in the Seychelles.

Sunday, October 5: Cameroon holds presidential elections

A Pivotal Year for Africa

The 2025 elections across these African nations will be key in shaping the continent’s future. The outcomes will determine the direction of political, economic, and social development in these countries. The hope is that these elections will be conducted fairly, peacefully, and transparently, reflecting the will of the people and strengthening democratic institutions across Africa.

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Faith Nyasuguta

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