One-party rule was once widespread across Africa. Even as democracies came to embrace multi-party elections in the late 1990s, voters rarely messed with the status quo. That is no longer the case
in South Africa.) Instead, they see corrupt and decadent elites.
But the most important factor, as with any region, is the economy. Africa’s finances are under pressure. Adverse weather conditions, soaring inflation, higher borrowing costs and a cooling demand from Africa’s major export markets have slowed the region’s growth prospects . Voters are holding their leaders partly responsible. In Sierra Leone and its west African neighbour, Liberia, incumbents have been subject to protests against their handling of the economy and alleged corruption.
Incumbents in some countries still have the edge. In Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, the president, faces a divided opposition and will most likely win re-election. In Nigeria, the ageing APC candidate, Bola Tinubu, is still looking like the man to beat. In others, democracy is still threatened. Zanu-PF, Zimbabwe’s ruling party, isand fiddling the voters’ roll ahead of elections it would otherwise lose.
But these examples are not representative of all of Africa’s 54 countries. In many places, citizens are voting for change. Tired incumbents have been put on notice.
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