Electoral Democracy in Africa: Beyond Ensuring Free, Fair and Transparent Elections

• Author: Elvis Fokala,Annika Rudman
• DOI: 10.25159/2522-6800/10011
• Published date: 01 December 2021
• Date: 01 December 2021
• Pages: 1-4

Editorial

Southern African Public Law

https://doi.org/10.25159/2522-6800/10011

https://upjournals.co.za/index.php/SAPL

ISSN 2522-6800 (Online), 2219-6412 (Print)

Volume 36 | Number 1 | 2021 | #10011 | 4 pages

© Unisa Press 2021

Electoral Democracy in Africa: Beyond Ensuring

Free, Fair and Transparent Elections

Annika Rudman

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4665-3547

Guest editor

Stellenbosch University

arudman@sun.ac.za

Elvis Fokala

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3631-0628

Guest editor

University of Pretoria

elvis.fokala@up.ac.za

Introduction

The implementation of every African citizen’s rights to vote and stand for public office

has arguably gained momentum in Africa. However, generally couched in international

law as universal suffrage, most Africans were only allowed to fully participate in their

domestic elections in the 1990s. In terms of women’s participation, black African

women continued to be particularly marginalised in most countries across the continent.

In the 1990s, multiparty representation was furthermore introduced in most African

countries. However, the slow implementation of this critical system is related to the fact

that most African states, at the time, were ruled by dictators who would go to any length

to stay in power. Although the dictatorial rule is still predominant in Africa, it is worth

noting that the number of dictators has reduced drastically since the 1990s.

Consequently, some democratic principles, such as the right of citizens to vote, are now

regularly implemented.

Since the 1990s, and particularly during the last decade, the practice of electoral

democracy has developed exponentially in Africa. Importantly, emphasis has been

placed on universal suffrage, the credibility and fairness of electoral processes. In 2018

and 2019 alone, twenty-five presidential elections were scheduled in various countries

across the continent. During this time, fifteen of the twenty five scheduled elections

were conducted, and results were announced. In 2020, twenty-five local, regional, and

presidential elections were equally scheduled, out of which sixteen were postponed due

to the break of COVID-19 and ensuing non-pharmaceutical regulations adopted by

States in Africa. However, as is further argued in the six articles making up this Special

Edition, the quality of these elections, i.e., whether they were free, fair, and transparent,

remains questionable. Consequently, it is important to further explore what constitutes

and regulates the mechanisms and principles necessary to promote a vigorous, fair, and