Reimagining Electoral Democracy in Africa: Case Study of Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe, Part 2: The Election Process

Announced by: University of Pittsburgh

Speakers: Joseph Siegle, Bodunrin Adebo, Cynthia Mbamalu, Dave Peterson

Africa is witnessing a period of reversals in democracy. The global COVID-19 pandemic compounded complexities faced by African countries in resolving the competition for political power through credible, peaceful elections. While elections have become a regular feature on the continent, crisis of confidence arising from controversial or contested election outcomes, as witnessed recently in Nigeria, continues to undermine citizens’ trust and confidence in the integrity of elections and the democratic process. In countries such as Uganda and Zimbabwe, incumbents have imposed restrictive laws against the media and civil society to strengthen their grip on power. There has been an unconstitutional change of government by the military in Mali and Guinea, while the military continues to stifle the transition to civilian rule in Sudan. And recently, Senegal is faced with violent protests following the conviction of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, with the prospect of President Macky Sall’s bid for a third term in the election next year. All these underscore the importance for the academic community and development community to engage in a critical review of elections in Africa to enhance democratic resilience on the continent.

To address these issues, the ASC Fall Democracy Talk series will provide a platform for critical discussions and analysis of democracy in Africa. The series will specifically examine recent national elections in Nigeria (March 2023), Sierra Leone (June 2023), and future elections in Zimbabwe (October 2023) and Senegal (February 2024) and their outcomes. Registration is required.

Zoom Registration Link: https://unc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nI8aKAvzSiqOWF_UiIVdxg