Changing the guard: Key African nations head to the polls

Credibility, along with security and logistics, is a key element in the forthcoming elections on the continent. The upcoming elections will provide the opportunity to scrutinize issues based on individual candidates.

Here are the upcoming elections to watch across Africa:

Malawi

Malawi at the Polls in 2019 Image:economist.com

Malawi will hold both its presidential and legislative elections on September 16. The incumbent president, Lazarus Chakwera, is seeking reelection with the ruling Congress Party. Chakwera will face two notable former presidents: Peter Mutharika (84), of the Democratic Progressive Party, and Joyce Banda (74), of the People's Party.

Most Malawian voters are worried about the economy, following the 2024 El Niño-driven drought that triggered famine, job losses, and soaring inflation.

The law stipulates that the winner of the presidential election must receive more than 50% of the votes. A coalition formation is possible with smaller parties, such as the United Transformation Movement.

Seychelles

queuing voters on main island image: africacenter.org

Seychelles is set to hold both legislative and presidential elections on September 27, marking a pivotal moment in the island nation's political landscape. Incumbent President Wavel Ramkalawan, representing the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) party, will seek a second term against Dr. Patrick Herminie of the United Seychelles party.

With the country grappling with a 23% poverty rate, both candidates have made economic reform a central focus of their campaigns, pledging to uplift the middle class and reduce inequality.

Ramkalawan, who made history in 2020 by ending the decades-long rule of United Seychelles, now faces a determined opposition eager to reclaim its former dominance. Once the prevailing force in both the presidency and parliament, United Seychelles is mounting a comeback bid to regain its position as the majority party in the National Assembly and the helm of government.

The outcome could redefine the future of the East African archipelago, home to 122,000 people.

Cameroon

Image: unhcr.org

After more than four decades in power, President Paul Biya is once again on the ballot as Cameroon heads to the polls on October 5. The 91-year-old leader is seeking an unprecedented eighth presidential term, extending one of the longest presidencies in modern history.

Biya will face off against longtime rival Maurice Kamto, leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, in a political climate marked by deep divisions and ongoing unrest in the country's Anglophone regions, where demands for autonomy have fueled a protracted conflict.

The ruling Rassemblement Démocratique du Peuple Camerounais (RDPC), which has held power since Cameroon gained independence in 1960, is pushing to maintain its grip on the presidency amid growing calls for political change and accountability. The election is expected to be a critical test of the nation's democratic resilience and Biya's enduring rule.

Tanzania

Zanzibar, Tanzania, October 28, 2020 Image: hrw.org

Tanzania is set to hold its presidential and legislative elections on October 28, marking a defining moment for the East African nation. President Samia Suluhu, seeking her first full term in office, faces mounting scrutiny as she attempts to solidify her leadership following the unexpected death of her predecessor, John Magufuli, in 2021.

Suluhu, who made history as Tanzania's first female president, now confronts one of the most contentious elections in recent memory. The main opposition party, CHADEMA, has been barred from participating, and its presidential hopeful, Tundu Lissu, is facing charges of treason. Lissu was arrested on April 9 after speaking at a rally demanding electoral reforms ahead of the vote.

The election climate has been further marred by reports of intimidation, abductions, and harassment of opposition figures and activists — claims that civil society groups say reflect a shrinking democratic space. The government has dismissed the allegations as unfounded.

As the country prepares for the October polls, many see the vote as a critical test of Tanzania's democratic trajectory and President Suluhu's political legacy.

Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast, after 2020 Saturday's election Image:vaticannews

Côte d'Ivoire’s upcoming presidential election, set for October 25, is already steeped in controversy following the exclusion of several prominent opposition figures from the final electoral list.

Among those barred from contesting are Tidjane Thiam, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI); former President Laurent Gbagbo; his longtime ally Charles Blé Goudé; and ex-rebel leader Guillaume Soro. Their disqualification has sparked outrage among opposition supporters and raised serious concerns about the transparency and inclusivity of the electoral process.

Meanwhile, incumbent President Alassane Ouattara, who has been in power since 2011, has been nominated by the ruling Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) to seek a controversial fourth term. The move has intensified political tensions in a country still scarred by the post-election violence of 2011, which left more than 3,000 people dead.

With key opposition leaders sidelined and memories of past unrest still fresh, the October vote is shaping up to be one of Côte d'Ivoire’s most contentious elections in over a decade.

Guinea Bissau

Image: news.un.org

Guinea-Bissau is set to hold presidential and legislative elections on November 23, with President Umaro Sissoco Embaló widely expected to seek a second—and constitutionally final—term in office.

The small West African nation, long plagued by political instability, has endured a series of coups and attempted power grabs. Embaló himself has survived two coup attempts, the most recent in 2023, which saw a deadly standoff between the presidential guard and elements of the national guard.

That same year, the president dissolved the opposition-led parliament, accusing it of bias and dysfunction—a move that deepened political tensions and raised alarms about democratic backsliding.

As the country heads to the polls, the upcoming elections will serve as a critical test of Guinea-Bissau's fragile democracy and Embaló's hold on power in a region increasingly defined by military takeovers and constitutional crises.

Other elections

The Central African Republic is set to hold its first round of presidential and legislative elections this December, a pivotal moment for a nation grappling with ongoing insecurity and political uncertainty.

Meanwhile, Guinea is also preparing for landmark presidential and local elections—the first since the 2021 military coup that ousted longtime leader Alpha Condé. The vote will mark a critical test for junta leader Mamady Doumbouya, who seized power promising a return to civilian rule and democratic governance.