Fatshimetrie’s Post

There seems to be an emerging pattern in some of the major elections conducted in Africa so far, hinting at an emergent character of democracy in the continent, and this would seem to be the people’s seeming determination to change incumbent ruling parties or whittle down their influence or remove them altogether, and at the base of this is a certain streak of nostalgia for the past...https://wp.me/p6TSXP-1YyM

NPR: “South African politics may have just changed permanently, from an era of one party rule. Within the country’s proportional representation system, more parties and independent candidates than ever are forming and providing an alternative — a reality the ANC must now grapple with.” Excellent overview of dramatically important national elections in SA.

South Africa and the United States both have the most consequential elections in their political history in 2024. For example, in South Africa, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) may, for the first time since 1994, fail to win over 50% of the votes and this would force a coalition of parties to form a government in South Africa which the ANC may not even be involved in. In the US, the November elections could go either way between the ruling Democrat Party and opposition Republican Party with the race too close to call between the presidential candidates of both parties. Either way, unless the ruling parties win the elections in South Africa and the US, any other outcome on either side would have serious consequence for relations between countries for the next 4 years. This moderated conversation between experienced both election analysts with inputs from the audience will shed light on the consequential nature of these elections for both countries and Africa broadly. Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/dNrczsjU Christopher Isike I Carl LeVan I University of Pretoria I Department of International Relations and Cooperation I U.S. Department of State I Prof. Tawana Kupe I Samuel Oyewole I Ihembe Martin I Paseka Gaola I Lerato Dube I Centre for Mediation in Africa

The elections are officially 8 days away and we are happy to share that the English version of our country report is available for you to read.   We detail our own analysis of the various election dynamics as well as the possible future ahead beyond the elections.   Enjoy.   https://lnkd.in/dP9QDaNK #KAS4Democracy

“Ghana’s presidential elections reveal changing dynamics in the country — and a striking U.S. parallel” Check out our latest article by Master of Public Policy Candidate Hussein Pumaya Yakubu. 🔔 Read now: https://lnkd.in/giqr4Vic

The growing participation of candidates of Congolese origin in elections in Belgium highlights the diversity and democratic richness of the country 🇧🇪💬 #BelgianPolitics #PoliticalEngagement #PoliticalDiversity

Inclusive Peace - This is a great overview for South Africa and national dialogues in general. My upcoming research paper adds three conceptual elements that should be considered in national dialogue designs: (i) the social contract (ii) consociationalism and (iii) conflict transformation.

South Africa's upcoming national and provincial elections on May 29 could result in the African National Congress (ANC) losing its majority for the first time since the end of apartheid. Polls suggest ANC support is around 40%, a significant drop from 57.5% in 2019. If the ANC falls short of a majority, it will need to form a coalition with smaller parties to govern. Potential partners include the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Al-Jama'ah, and the Patriotic Alliance. If the ANC's support is closer to 40%, it may have to seek alliances with larger rivals like the Democratic Alliance (DA) or the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which could lead to significant policy concessions and a period of government volatility. The election's outcome will determine whether President Cyril Ramaphosa remains in office or if a new leader will be chosen by the National Assembly. Read More: https://lnkd.in/de4x5DG9

The Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation of the Hon Cabral Libii is inching toward a political coalition with other parties ahead of the 2025 elections. At first, the PCRN was hesitant towards a coalition but what informed the recent change of stance? Find out more - https://ow.ly/2xip50QVA85 #2025Elections #CameroonPolitics #CabralLibii #PoliticalCoalition #AfricanPolitics

The participation in the management of public affairs, which encompasses the entitlement to vote and run for office, lies at the heart of democratic governments that are founded on the consent of the governed. Authentic Elections are an essential and fundamental element of a framework that safeguards and advances human rights. The right to cast a vote and be elected in legitimate and regular elections is inherently connected to various other Human Rights, the enjoyment of which is vital for a significant electoral procedure. Democracy relies heavily on elections as they serve as the fundamental pillar, enabling individuals to actively participate in Public Affairs The recent election in Chad, that saw the emergence and eventual transformation of a Junta into a Civilian role is a challenge to democracy as there is the fear that the junta's of Burkina Faso, Niger and Gabon will follow suit, there by betraying the anus of effective democracy. it is therefore imperative for States to have Strong Institutions that can uphold democratic rules and preserve the sanctity of elections.