Élections et Risque d’Instabilité en Afrique : Favoriser Des Processus Électoraux Légitimes

The paper argues that elections in Africa often trigger instability because they are primarily viewed as a means of accessing state resources. It suggests that stability requires 'inclusive political settlements' and a move away from 'electoral autocracy' where elections are used to consolidate power. The author emphasizes the need for credible Election Management Bodies (EMBs), legitimate domestic observation, and inclusive mediation mechanisms involving civil society and traditional leaders to prevent violence.

• Elections in Africa frequently act as catalysts for violence and instability because the victory provides critical access to state resources, making the competition particularly acute for fragile regimes.
• Some regimes employ 'electoral autocracy,' using biased procedures such as gerrymandering, fraud, and constitutional changes to maintain power, which creates a false stability that often ends in violent conflict.
• Political stability is more likely when there is an 'inclusive political settlement' regarding the sharing of power and resources, and proportional representation systems are noted as being more effective than majoritarian systems at reducing tensions in Africa.
• Election Management Bodies (EMBs) in many African countries lack the professional capacity, independence, and institutional memory required to ensure credible elections, often necessitating the restart of electoral infrastructure for every cycle.
• Domestic election observation networks are often more legitimate and effective than international missions, which are sometimes criticized for short timeframes, limited local knowledge, and a tendency to prioritize short-term stability over contested results.
• Effective prevention of electoral violence requires inclusive mediation mechanisms and early warning systems that involve not only political parties but also religious leaders, traditional authorities, and civil society.

APA

Crouzel, I. (2014). Élections et Risque d’Instabilité en Afrique : Favoriser Des Processus Électoraux Légitimes. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Occasional-Paper-200.pdf

Chicago

Crouzel, Ivan. Élections et Risque d’Instabilité en Afrique : Favoriser Des Processus Électoraux Légitimes. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2014. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Occasional-Paper-200.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Crouzel |first1=Ivan |title=Élections et Risque d’Instabilité en Afrique : Favoriser Des Processus Électoraux Légitimes |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=August 2014 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Occasional-Paper-200.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{crouzel2014lections, author = {Crouzel, Ivan}, title = {{Élections et Risque d’Instabilité en Afrique : Favoriser Des Processus Électoraux Légitimes}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2014}, month = aug, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Occasional-Paper-200.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }