KAS South Africa - Country Office’s Post

OPINION | 2024: The year democracy was tested in Africa: Coming on the heels of seven coups since 2020, 19 countries held elections but with mixed outcomes. https://lnkd.in/drc-8DYU

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚’𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 At least 19 African states are gearing up for new leadership elections in 2024. These elections play a crucial role in shaping the continent’s democratic landscape. Let’s take a closer look at the state of democracy in Africa and what these elections mean: Democratic Progress: Despite challenges, there have been significant improvements in democratic processes across Africa. Elections serve as a means for peaceful leadership transitions and contribute to political legitimacy. However, concerns remain about the strength of democracy in certain pockets of the continent. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡: 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐡: Notably, over 50 nations worldwide will head to the polls in 2024, including several African countries. These elections will be closely watched by observers and experts alike2. 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚: With 30 years of democracy under its belt, South Africa faces critical issues such as unemployment and poverty. The 2024 national elections will determine the country’s path forward. 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: A total of 20 African countries are scheduled to hold presidential or national elections in 2024, representing over 37% of the continent. These elections will shape political stability and governance for the next electoral terms. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝: - Electoral Integrity: Ensuring free and fair elections remains a challenge. - --- Addressing issues like voter suppression, electoral violence, and transparency is crucial. - Inclusivity: Promoting inclusivity by involving diverse voices and marginalized communities is essential for robust democracies. - Accountability: Holding elected leaders accountable for their actions and decisions is vital. As we approach these elections, let’s celebrate the democratic spirit and hope for positive outcomes that benefit all Africans. #AfricanDemocracy #Election2024 Watch ETM Group Africa analysis here: https://lnkd.in/dt7c7M8Q

I love this post by Mandy Wiener. The best thing we can do before our elections is to read read read and inform ourselves as best we can! And then to vote!!!

#India is currently conducting one of the largest democratic exercises in history, with almost a billion eligible voters participating in the ongoing election. Check out this briefing note from the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada which analyses the foreign policy implications of these elections and the relationship between Canada and India. #IndiaVotes #Canada #IndiaRelations

Probably the most important elections in South Africa since 1994 are happening on 29 May. What country will South Africa be in 2-3 weeks? The results of the vote are uncertain and it is possible that 1st time since 1994 the ruling party ANC (African National Congress) will not have majority in the parliament. It will mean they will need to enter into a coalition with... the question is with whom? There are too many scenarios to guess today. #southafrica #africa #elections

30 Years of Democracy - South Africa's 2024 elections marked by uncertainty and a desire for change: https://lnkd.in/gH94_9Kr With only a month remaining before the elections, the political landscape in South Africa is undergoing significant shifts. The ANC, long the dominant force in the country's politics, is struggling to impress voters, with support for the ruling party well below 50%. Nationally, only 38% believe that the ANC will live up to their election promises, and the party's support base has long been concentrated in rural areas. The emergence of MK has halted the advances made by the EFF in recent years, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, with some former EFF supporters migrating to the new party. Meanwhile, the DA is maintaining its position, attracting the support of about a fifth of the electorate. As the campaign enters its final weeks, uncertainty is highest in KwaZulu-Natal, where almost a fifth of the electorate has not yet decided which party or candidate they will vote for. The IFP's support is mainly concentrated in KZN, while Action SA's support comes primarily from Gauteng. Although the FF+ has low overall support, it comes from across the country.

30 Years of Democracy - South Africa's 2024 elections marked by uncertainty and a desire for change: https://lnkd.in/d6YwGy_G With only a month remaining before the elections, the political landscape in South Africa is undergoing significant shifts. The ANC, long the dominant force in the country's politics, is struggling to impress voters, with support for the ruling party well below 50%. Nationally, only 38% believe that the ANC will live up to their election promises, and the party's support base has long been concentrated in rural areas. The emergence of MK has halted the advances made by the EFF in recent years, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, with some former EFF supporters migrating to the new party. Meanwhile, the DA is maintaining its position, attracting the support of about a fifth of the electorate. As the campaign enters its final weeks, uncertainty is highest in KwaZulu-Natal, where almost a fifth of the electorate has not yet decided which party or candidate they will vote for. The IFP's support is mainly concentrated in KZN, while Action SA's support comes primarily from Gauteng. Although the FF+ has low overall support, it comes from across the country.

30 Years of Democracy - South Africa's 2024 elections marked by uncertainty and a desire for change: https://lnkd.in/dtjzWaVP With only a month remaining before the elections, the political landscape in South Africa is undergoing significant shifts. The ANC, long the dominant force in the country's politics, is struggling to impress voters, with support for the ruling party well below 50%. Nationally, only 38% believe that the ANC will live up to their election promises, and the party's support base has long been concentrated in rural areas. The emergence of MK has halted the advances made by the EFF in recent years, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, with some former EFF supporters migrating to the new party. Meanwhile, the DA is maintaining its position, attracting the support of about a fifth of the electorate. As the campaign enters its final weeks, uncertainty is highest in KwaZulu-Natal, where almost a fifth of the electorate has not yet decided which party or candidate they will vote for. The IFP's support is mainly concentrated in KZN, while Action SA's support comes primarily from Gauteng. Although the FF+ has low overall support, it comes from across the country.

30 Years of Democracy - South Africa's 2024 elections marked by uncertainty and a desire for change: https://lnkd.in/gQ5JtWAE With only a month remaining before the elections, the political landscape in South Africa is undergoing significant shifts. The ANC, long the dominant force in the country's politics, is struggling to impress voters, with support for the ruling party well below 50%. Nationally, only 38% believe that the ANC will live up to their election promises, and the party's support base has long been concentrated in rural areas. The emergence of MK has halted the advances made by the EFF in recent years, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, with some former EFF supporters migrating to the new party. Meanwhile, the DA is maintaining its position, attracting the support of about a fifth of the electorate. As the campaign enters its final weeks, uncertainty is highest in KwaZulu-Natal, where almost a fifth of the electorate has not yet decided which party or candidate they will vote for. The IFP's support is mainly concentrated in KZN, while Action SA's support comes primarily from Gauteng. Although the FF+ has low overall support, it comes from across the country.

Turkey held its local government elections this year in March. In a major blow to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s hold on Turkish politics, his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), faced its biggest electoral defeat in two decades. The main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), won seats in 36 out of 81 provinces and claimed mayoral victories in the five biggest cities of Turkey. In our latest article, Ayfer Ekin analyses the implications of these results, reflecting on the ongoing Kurdish resistance against rising authoritarianism and the possibility for alternatives to the nation-state structure in the region. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gm2qrqxU Kalpavriksh Ashish Kothari