mmegi

The nightmare of electoral violence in Africa

The electoral process in Africa’s ‘new’ democracies, the fledgling democratic re-experiments under the so-called ‘third wave’ of democratization has, with few exceptions, been characterized by violence.

Though violence has been a long-standing feature of the democratization process in Africa, its recent manifestations have assumed an unprecedented magnitude and a changing form and character.

This electoral violence has tended to put the democratization process on the line in many African states, threatening the prospects of democratic stability and consolidation.

Editor's Comment
Human rights are sacred

It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

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