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Society
- Panafrica
- Politics - Governance
2010: Africa’s Presidential year
The 2010 political year on the African continent was marked by several presidential elections. But despite being marked by an incalculable number of irregularities, coupled with pre- and post-conflict elections, a wind of political change is blowing, nonetheless.
Seventeen African countries, including 14 former French colonies, commemorated the golden jubilees of their independence in 2010. Notwithstanding the distance travelled and the call for self-evaluation, the continent has become the scene of faltering democratic principles in a backdrop of a rallying cry for democratic elections. Strangely, these elections, a far cry from the coup d’etats of the 1970s and 1980s, have plunged most of the countries that have held them into abysmal uncertainty, terror, or even worse, as in Côte d’Ivoire’s current political crisis.
After an initial postponement of the country’s presidential polls, Togolese were finally able to vote for seven candidates, including the outgoing head of state, Faure Gnassingbé and his main opponent, Jean-Pierre Fabre. On March 6, 2010, victory was given to the outgoing head of state. He had won nearly 61% of the vote after the final tally. The result, which announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was challenged by the opposition who denounced multiple frauds.
After 21 years at the helm of the Sudan, President Omar al-Beshir was reinstalled with 68.24% of the vote following the Horn of Africa country’s first multiparty elections since 1986: a poll marred by widespread fraud and conflict in southern Sudan.
45-year-old Pierre Nkurunziza, who has been in power for five years, was reelected with 91.62% of the total votes. The outgoing President was the only candidate to have stood for election following the withdrawal of the six opposition candidates who contested the landslide victory of the ruling party (CNDD-FDD) in the communal elections of May 24.
After 52 years of dictatorial regimes and a stormy ethnically-inclined election marked by several postponements of the run-off, a new era has dawned on Guinea. The Supreme Court validated the victory of Alpha Condé of the Rassemblement du Peuple de Guinée (RPG) on the night of December 2. Having won 52.52% of the Western African country’s votes, the historical opponent beat former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, who received 47.48%.
In power since the 1994 genocide and lacking real opposition, Paul Kagame, leader of the Patriotic Front (RPF), was elected for seven years with a whopping 93%.
The historic election that was to heave La Côte d’Ivoire out of its political crisis has turned into a fiasco. After the second round that pitted Laurent Gbagbo against Alassane Ouattara, Côte d’Ivoire is left with two presidents.
The fourth election since the establishment of a multiparty system in Tanzania saw the victory of incumbent President Jakaya Kikwete. He was reelected with 61.17%. According to the EU, the poll was organized in a calm atmosphere.
After an election that was largely shunned by the Burkinabè people, Blaise Compaoré was reelected with 80.15% of the West African country’s total votes. Alleging serious irregularities, the opposition rejected the election results and challenged its legality and legitimacy.
Former vice president of Comoros, Ikililou Dhoinine was declared winner with 68.87%. He became the first Mohélien to be installed into the highest office in island country. The poll was validated by the Constitutional Court, despite a motion filed by the opposition to quash the results. The opposition described the election as an "electoral coup." In Central Africa, Chad, DRC, Nigeria, Niger, Uganda... The year 2011 will see as many presidential elections. |
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Togo, March 4