election

The Struggle of Democracy: Cameroon’s Presidential Election Under the Shadow of Paul Biya This past weekend, nearly eight million voters in Cameroon cast their ballots, illuminating both hope and despair as they participated in a presidential election that could define the nation's complex future. President Paul Biya, aged 92, is once again seeking to extend his unprecedented 43-year rule, a tenure characterized by a delicate balance of power, widespread criticisms, and questions about the viability of true democracy in the…

Ivorian Tensions Rise Ahead of Elections: The Ban on Dissent and the Fight for Democracy In Ivory Coast, as the sun begins to set over a nation steeped in political turmoil, the atmosphere buzzes with uncertainty. The air crackles with tension as the government has announced a controversial ban on public gatherings aimed at challenging a contentious decision by the Constitutional Court. This ruling has effectively barred several prominent opposition figures, including former president Laurent Gbagbo and ex-minister Tidjane…

Moldova’s Clear Vote for Europe Tests Resilience of a Fragile Democracy A decisive mandate in the shadow of geopolitical pressure Chisinau’s streets saw an unusual calm on the morning after parliamentary elections that delivered a striking — if narrow — validation of President Maia Sandu’s pro‑European platform. With nearly all ballots counted, the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) crossed the symbolic 50% threshold, taking 50.1% of the vote to the Patriotic Bloc’s 24.2%. For many inside a country of 2.4 million, the…

Malawi Awaits Election Results as Tallying Continues; Calls for Calm Grow Louder Malawi is holding its breath as the Electoral Commission continues to collate votes from last week’s presidential and parliamentary elections, with preliminary figures showing former president Peter Mutharika edging ahead of incumbent Lazarus Chakwera. The slow, painstaking work of validating and consolidating tallies across the country has produced a mix of anxiety and cautious appeals for calm from political leaders and the electoral…

Kenya’s Somali Vote Emerges as 2027 Kingmaker — and a Test of the Country’s Coalitions On a blustery afternoon in Mandera, near the triple border where Kenya meets Ethiopia and Somalia, the political message was as direct as the dusty road to the venue: the Somali community will count, perhaps more than ever, in the 2027 election. Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, a seasoned operative known for his sharp tongue and long-time loyalty to opposition leader Raila Odinga, stood alongside President William Ruto and said the quiet part…

Millions vote in Malawi in high-stakes rematch driven by economic angst Millions of Malawians queued at polling stations across the southern African country on Tuesday to choose a new president in what has become a symbolic test of the nation’s democratic institutions and a high-stakes rematch between President Lazarus Chakwera and former president Peter Mutharika. From the market stalls of Blantyre to the maize fields of rural districts, the atmosphere was charged. Campaign posters still hung on lamp posts, and the thrum…

The Fragile Landscape of Cameroon's Upcoming Presidential Elections Amid the lush landscapes and vibrant cultures of Cameroon, a pivotal moment looms on the horizon: the impending presidential elections, set to be held soon under the long-standing reign of President Paul Biya. With nearly 43 years in power, Biya's ruling Cameroon People Democratic Movement (CPDM) is widely anticipated to secure another term, a common expectation that has gripped political observers since 1992. Yet, with the specter of rising ethnic tensions…

Somalia’s new Northeast State tests fragile federalism as favored candidates win amid interference claims In the sunbaked streets of Las Anod, the epicenter of a year of upheaval on Somalia’s northern rim, lawmakers this weekend chose a president and vice president for a new political entity they call the Northeast State. The result — a victory for Abdiqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali, known widely as Firdhiye, and his running mate Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril — was greeted in Mogadishu as a milestone for state-building. It was also met with…

A New Chapter in Somalia’s Electoral Landscape: Progress or Peril? In a significant political shift, a faction of Somalia's opposition alliance has reached an electoral agreement with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. This pact could alter the country’s democratic trajectory, signaling both hope and uncertainty. As the global audience absorbs this development, one must consider its ramifications within Somalia and the broader Horn of Africa. A Historic Breakaway The Sehmiye faction, composed of influential figures like…

Somalia’s New Electoral Agreement: A Crucial Step Toward Unity NAIROBI—In a nation often marred by instability and political discord, the recent landmark electoral agreement between Somalia’s federal government and the Somali Salvation Forum marks a pivotal stride toward national unity and democratic governance. The Agreement: A Pathway to Stability After two months of contentious negotiations, the agreement outlines a distinctive approach to conducting the next elections. Under the new framework, the Federal Parliament…