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Securitisation of African elections

There are many countries in Africa that are going for presidential, national and local government elections this year and some of these countries such as Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo have a dark history of electoral violence.

In fact electoral violence is on the rise in Africa. Despite more than 20 years of adopting democratic governance, democratic indicators are relatively unchanged over the course of 20 years, and electoral violence has a detrimental effect on citizens’ view of democracy.

Elections across sub-Saharan Africa are frequently accompanied by fears of electoral violence and shrill calls for peace from civil society, journalists, governments, and international actors.

Editor's Comment
Justice delayed is trust denied

Batswana who marched peacefully for 'Justice for Tshepi' demanded answers. They have now received a detailed account of police investigation and a promise that the file is with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The real test is whether the state now keeps its word without further prodding. In his address, the minister asked the nation to trust the process. He spoke of rigour, not neglect, and pointed to 10 months of...

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