African election trends 2016: pressurised polling processes but progress

The report examines African election trends in 2016, noting that while multi-party elections are now standard, many processes are undermined by 'constitutional coups', the removal of term limits, and electoral irregularities. It details specific cases of instability and incumbent persistence in countries like the Central African Republic, Uganda, and the Republic of Congo, while contrasting these with more stable prospects in South Africa and Ghana.

• Despite the institutionalisation of multi-party systems, many African elections remain flawed due to coups, the removal of constitutional term limits, vote-rigging, and opposition boycotts.
• Several African leaders have maintained power by altering constitutions to remove term limits, including President Yoweri Museveni in Uganda (limits dropped in 2005), President Idriss Déby in Chad (limits dropped in 2004), and President Omar Guelleh in Djibouti (limits jettisoned in 2010).
• The Republic of Congo's March 2016 election was preceded by an October 2015 referendum that removed term and age limits, an action described by opposition parties as a 'constitutional coup'.
• The Central African Republic experienced a chaotic electoral process involving a 2013 coup, violence in Bangui, and a February 2016 parliamentary rerun before Faustin Archange Touadéra was elected president.
• While many regions show depressing trends, elections in South Africa and Ghana in 2016 were expected to be peaceful, free, and fair.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2016). African election trends 2016: pressurised polling processes but progress. https://saiia.org.za/research/african-election-trends-2016-pressurised-polling-processes-but-progress/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. African election trends 2016: pressurised polling processes but progress. 2016. https://saiia.org.za/research/african-election-trends-2016-pressurised-polling-processes-but-progress/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=African election trends 2016: pressurised polling processes but progress |date=14 June 2016 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/african-election-trends-2016-pressurised-polling-processes-but-progress/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2016african, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{African election trends 2016: pressurised polling processes but progress}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2016}, month = jun, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/african-election-trends-2016-pressurised-polling-processes-but-progress/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }