Africa's 'Year of Elections' Has Been Hard to Watch
Credible votes in Botswana, Senegal, South Africa and Mauritius have shone this year. But political repression and violence keeps many discredited regimes in power.
Mozambique's main border with South Africa was closed on November 13, 2024 as dozens of protestors blocked trucks and cars following the opposition leader's call for more demonstrations against results of last month's vote.
Photographer: ALFREDO ZUNIGA/AFPIt’s been a great two weeks for elections in Africa.
In a shock result a fortnight ago, the Botswana Democratic Party lost elections in the diamond-rich southern African nation for the first time in 58 years. President Mokgweetsi Masisi immediately called Duma Boko, the Harvard-educated human rights lawyer who leads the victorious Umbrella for Democratic Change, and conceded defeat. “I will respectfully step aside,” Masisi said. “I respect the will of the people.”