2016 is set to be a busy year for elections in Africa, with 16 countries preparing to hold national-level elections.
More than a dozen African countries are expected to hold presidential elections this year. Some are being watched closely in the lead up to their respective polls.
15 million Ugandans are expected to cast their vote in February. Incumbent Yoweri Museveni will have been at the helm for 30 years, making him the continent’s 5th longest-serving president.
He’ll be running against former ally and Prime minister, Amama Mbabazi. Working in Museveni’s favour, a divided opposition and the failure to push through proposed electoral reforms.
However, voter apathy could mar the Ugandan election- the majority of voters are young and youth unemployment stands at around 64%. Fears of unrest were also stoked when opposition rallies were violently broken up last year.
Zambians are also set to head to the polls in August, against the backdrop of an ailing economy.
Incumbent Edgar Lungu will face opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, whom he narrowly beat last year, in a by-election called after the death of then president Michael Sata.
