Voting in a pandemic: Lessons for elections in Africa in 2021
“African elections held early on in the pandemic have compelled urgent adaptations and innovations to electoral processes and timelines.”
News & Analysis: Elections
Algeria: President announces recovery, new election law
Latest Developments Algeria Anadolu Agency Article/Blog post by John Schellhase“Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced Sunday that he had recovered from COVID-19 and ordered preparation of a new election law to be ready within 15 days to pave the way for early parliamentary and local elections.”
All This Talk About Vaccines Gives a Desperately-Needed Boost to Two of Africa’s Largest Oil Producing Countries
Latest Developments Angola / Nigeria China-Africa Project Article/Blog post by John Schellhase“The prices for Nigerian Bonny Light and Angolan Cabinda crudes have regained some lost ground in November thanks to the Pfizer vaccine news and the U.S. elections. Given that both countries face enormous debt servicing challenges, these higher oil prices will help to replenish government coffers.”
Electoral officials need more money to run elections during COVID-19
Analysis and Opinion Uganda Democratic Audit Article/Blog post by John Schellhase“Elections have often seen rising costs, but these financial challenges have increased in scope due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is primarily because of costs related to risk mitigation measures, which include both health and safety and special voting arrangements.”
Burundi expels senior WHO official, experts
Latest Developments Burundi The East African Article/Blog post by John Schellhase“Burundi on Wednesday expelled the representative of the World Health Organization and three senior health experts deployed to Bujumbura over unspecified reasons.”
COVID-19 is casting Magufuli in the worst light, in an election year
Analysis and Opinion Tanzania The Conversation Article/Blog post by John Schellhase“2020 is casting Magufuli in the worst of lights. His COVID-19 response throws other, negative aspects of the president and his programme into sharp relief. Instead of validating his vision it is bringing critical, dissenting perspectives to the fore.”
Coronavirus response takes backseat as election looms in Burundi
Latest Developments Burundi The New Humanitarian Article/Blog post by John Schellhase“There are growing concerns over the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic as mass rallies draw thousands into jam-packed public spaces across the country, and hospital workers speak of a spike in cases.”
COVID-19 is Coinciding with Dangerous Trends in Burundi’s Democracy
Latest Developments Burundi CFR Article/Blog post by John Schellhase“President Pierre Nukurunziza’s reluctance to impose policies aimed at stopping the virus from spreading is converging with his enthusiasm for democratic authoritarianism, putting not only Burundi, but Burundi’s neighbors at risk.”
COVID-19 Impact on Africa Elections
Latest Developments Cote d'Ivoire / Ethiopia / Gambia / Guinea / Kenya / Mali / Morocco / Nigeria / South Africa / Tunisia / Uganda / Zimbabwe The Cairo Review of Global Affairs Article/Blog post by John Schellhase“Leaders are now facing a Cornelian dilemma: to organize elections and raise the risk of spreading the pandemic, or to postpone the election and face accusations of authoritarianism. It is like choosing between two important rights, now in a situation of obvious conflict.”
Opposition parties statement on election postponement (Ethiopia)
Latest Developments Ethiopia Ethiopia Insight Article/Blog post by John Schellhase“The postponement of the election due to the pandemic can be used as another opportunity to seriously deliberate, correct mistakes made over the last two years, and put the transition back on track. Therefore, we call upon all parties to seize this opportunity and sit for a roundtable deliberation to seek a legitimate political consensus on how to manage the constitutional crisis.”
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