Africafé: Electoral Reforms in Africa

September 19, 2024

Electoral processes in Africa face significant challenges that undermine democratic ideals. Despite ongoing efforts to enhance electoral integrity, many nations struggle to conduct credible elections. In this episode, Dr. Sharamo examines the current landscape of electoral reforms across the continent, addressing both the challenges and opportunities that exist. He analyzes how electoral processes have evolved, highlighting persistent issues that threaten democracy.

The conversation will explore regional disparities, focusing on varying political contexts and identifying countries that have made notable strides in electoral reforms. He will also examine the impact of digitalization and its effects on transparency and voter confidence, especially in areas with limited digital literacy. This discussion will provide insights into the future of democracy in Africa and the essential steps needed to build more resilient electoral systems.

Speakers
Ahmed Ouhnini
Economist, Policy Center for the New South
Ahmed Ouhnini is an Economist at the Policy Center for the New South. His research area covers agricultural economics, human and social development. Previously, he has worked as a researcher at the Paris School of Economics (PSE) and has also a record of working in consulting services in Morocco. Ahmed holds an engineering Diploma in Agriculture and Rural Development from the National School of Agriculture of Meknes and a Master’s Degree in Law, Economics and Management from the Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne Institute of Development. ...
Roba Sharamo
Director of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance  
...

RELATED CONTENT

  • Authors
    May 26, 2022
    L’engagement des acteurs extérieurs au niveau du continent africain ainsi que sa nature n’ont cessé d’évoluer. Si au début des années 90 l’intérêt pour le continent ainsi que l’attractivité dont celui-ci jouissait semblaient s’être quelque peu dissipés, le début du 21ème siècle a marqué un regain d’intérêt et une nouvelle perception de l’Afrique. L’évolution des dynamiques géopolitiques à l’échelle mondiale a réorienté la vision des acteurs extérieurs concerna ...
  • Authors
    Sabine Cessou
    May 17, 2022
    Ce thème, abordé au Centre HEC de Géopolitique à Jouy-en-Josas, lors de la 12e édition des Dialogues stratégiques avec le Policy Center for the New South, une rencontre semestrielle, a permis de revenir dans le détail sur cette zone qui relie la Méditerranée à l’océan Indien, à la jointure de trois continents : l’Asie, l’Afrique et l’Europe. Cette route maritime qui s’étend sur plus de 2 200 km, pour une largeur qui varie de 300 km à moins de 30 km entre Djibouti et le Yémen, représ ...
  • May 13, 2022
    Depuis 2016, le Policy Center for the New South et le Centre HEC de Géopolitique organisent chaque année deux éditions des « Dialogues Stratégiques ». Cette plateforme d’analyse et d’échange réunit des experts, des chercheurs provenant de différents think-tanks et du monde académique, d...
  • Authors
    April 26, 2022
    As China’s presence has expanded into the Horn of Africa, Somaliland has opted to distance itself from Beijing and presented itself as a democratic ally of the West – and Taiwan. On March 17, 2022, three Republican Congressmen introduced a bill titled the “Somaliland Partnership Act,” requiring the American Secretary of State to submit annual reports to Congress on assistance provided to Somaliland and conduct a feasibility study on establishing a security partnership with Somalilan ...
  • Authors
    Patricia Ahanda
    April 22, 2022
    Le second tour des élections présidentielles françaises qui se tiendra ce 24 avril 2022 opposera de nouveau Emmanuel Macron, le président sortant, et Marine Le Pen, présidente du Rassemblement national. Pourtant, cette nouvelle élection n’est en rien similaire à celle de 2017. Cette élection est un nouvel affrontement politique entre deux leaders aux projets totalement opposés. C’est un duel politique français marqué par des bouleversements sociaux, économiques, générationnels, poli ...
  • Authors
    April 15, 2022
    The shadows of Africa's colonial history loom over the French presidential elections. Emmanuel Macron came to office claiming to be “neither of left nor right,” and hoping to fundamentally transform France’s approach to Africa, and to heal the wounds of colonialism. Given the Russian-Ukraine War, the failure of Operation Barkhane, the rise of the French right, and the general African fatigue with Françafrique, it is not clear if an overhaul of France's African policy is possible. ...
  • April 5, 2022
    يخصص مركز السياسات من أجل الجنوب الجديد حلقة برنامجه الأسبوعي "حديث الثلاثاء" لمستقبل العلاقات المغربية الاسبانية مع العربي الجعايدي، باحث بارز بمركز السياسات من أجل الجنوب الجديد عرفت العلاقة الثنائية المغربية الإسبانية تطوّرًا ملحوظًا مع إعلان الحكومة الإسبانية مساندتها لمبادرة الحكم ...
  • Authors
    March 22, 2022
    African states are in a vulnerable position. The invasion of Ukraine could affect food security and trigger a spike in oil prices, inflicting economic duress on African households. The Black Sea region is home to vast fertile farmlands, and war in the “breadbasket of the world” could threaten wheat and fertilizer supplies. Increased economic hardship and social discontent do not bode well for democratic governance in Africa, especially in light of the recent spate of military coups. ...
  • Authors
    March 17, 2022
    “Turkey’s turn to Africa is the result of several factors: the economic liberalization process undertaken in the 1990s, Ankara’s aim for greater voice in international institutions, and Turkey's rivalry with Egypt and the Gulf states. Scholars have observed that Turkey's public diplomacy, which some have dubbed the “Ankara consensus” is consciously designed as an alternative to the Washington consensus of neoliberal economic growth and the Beijing consensus of state-led growth, that ...
  • Authors
    March 16, 2022
    The 2021 German federal election brought about a historic reshuffle of the political parties’ hierarchy in Europe’s biggest economy. The Social Democratic Party are back in control of the Chancellery for the first time since 2005, as part of a three-party coalition at the federal level with the Greens and the Liberals, a first in Germany’s post-war history. Now, the federal government has turned its gaze towards its founding mission: more progress. The first 100 days of the three-pa ...