Fredline M’Cormack-Hale

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People queue outside a polling station in Thokoza, east of Johannesburg, on Nov. 1. (Themba Hadebe/AP)

MundoÁfrica

Two recent electoral contests have renewed optimism in Africa about the transformative power of elections.

In August, challenger Hakainde Hichilema’s victory over Zambian President Edgar Lungu gave democracy advocates hope of reversing the country’s seeming slide into authoritarianism. And just last week, local government elections in South Africa energized opposition supporters and shocked the ruling African National Congress, which fell short of 50 percent of the vote for the first time since the country’s transition to majority rule.

Both of these polls demonstrated that fair elections can serve as the foundation for political change, and perhaps lead to progress against corruption and flagging development.…  Seguir leyendo »

Civilians and soldiers line up to vote at a school in Conakry, Guinea, on Oct. 18. (Sadak Souici/AP)

MundoÁfrica

For the watching world, one key takeaway from the U.S. election in 2020 is just how fragile even a long-established democracy can be if people lose faith in elections. Well-wishers hope that its corollary will be just how effective resilient institutions can be in rebuilding that faith.

While Africans followed the U.S. election debacle with intense interest, they certainly have case studies of their own when it comes to allegations of election fraud and disputed results. The most recent is Uganda, where the challenger in January’s election blasted “the most fraudulent election in this country’s history,” even as security forces imprisoned him in his home.…  Seguir leyendo »