Intelligence Insight | 🌏 Africa’s 2025 Elections: A Test of Credibility to Uphold Democratic Norms
📅 Executive Summary
Africa enters 2025 amid a fraught electoral landscape, with a record number of national elections expected to take place. The continent finds itself at a critical juncture, where the principles of democratic governance are being tested against a backdrop of rising authoritarianism, political suppression, and institutional fragility. Numerous countries are poised for presidential or legislative elections, raising acute concerns around democratic credibility, institutional integrity, and the risk of civil unrest. Key electoral flashpoints include Gabon, Togo, Malawi, Tanzania, Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), Guinea, and Ivory Coast, each with its complex political history and evolving governance landscape.
This year’s elections are particularly significant as they will not only shape national trajectories but also determine the collective democratic ethos of Africa in the coming decade. Some states exhibit signs of democratic renewal, while others are entrenching autocratic rule under the veneer of electoral processes. This brief provides a comprehensive analysis of the 2025 African electoral calendar, its strategic implications, and early indicators of stability or regression.