Election fever swept the African continent this year 2015. It started with Zambia’s presidential poll- which was called after the death of former leader Michael Sata. Edgar Lungu beat Hakainde Hichilema in an election race that was marred by delays. Hichilema cried foul over the results. But Lungu was sworn in and pledged to complete his predecessor’s economic development projects.
March witnessed history being made in Nigeria- in the nation’s first peaceful transfer of power between civilian presidents. Never before had an incumbent been defeated in an election. Former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari beat Goodluck Jonathan by more than 2.5 million votes. His victory was met with colourful celebrations across the country.
Guinea, Togo and Sudan saw incumbents retain power. While July’s swearing-in of Burundian president Pierre Nkurunziza- for a third term- plunged the nation into its biggest crisis since an ethnically charged civil war ended in 2005.
Tanzania’s October election was the most fierce the governing party faced after 54 years in power. But the opposition coalition failed to unseat Africa’s longest serving ruling party and John Magufuli won with 58% of the vote. His swift crackdown on overspending and corruption sparked an online sensation.
In the same month, Cote d’Ivoire pulled off a peaceful poll, five years on from the country’s devastating civil war. 73-year-old Alassane Ouattara garnered nearly 84% of the ballots, despite calls for a boycott by some opposition candidates. The vote was seen as crucial to helping the country recover from political and economic instability.
December sees a snap election in Seychelles and a presidential poll in the Central African Republic- the lead up to which was marred by violence.
