In 2010 citizens of 22 African countries will go to the polls. The most important and crucial events on the African political stage are represented by the Sudan, Somaliland and Guinea Conackry elections. Find in this post all the Africa’s electoral challenges in 2010.

On 31 January in Guinea polls will open to elect the head of State. Last September the head of the Guinean junta, captain Moussa Dadis Camara, announced his intention to re-candidate for the upcoming elections, a fact that made the opposition protests explode and culminate in the 28 September demonstration at the capital Conacky stadium, which was cruelty repressed by police and the army.

Sudan is to hold the presidential and parliamentary polls from April 5 to April 12, 2010.

The Sudan elections are a cornerstone of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/A, signed after the end of the fighting between the two parties, which has lasted over 20 years. Another main electoral event is the self-determination referendum of South Sudan, scheduled for 2011, when six-year interim period established by the peace deal will end.

The elections were to be held from March to April 2009 but were delayed because of the problems with the preparation of the vote and with national census.

According to official data, about 69 parties have registered for the next polls.

In Somaliland the stalled electoral process has plunged the semi-autonomous region into a serious political crisis.

President Rayale third term of office should have expired on 15 May 2008. The election that had to be held at least one month earlier has been rescheduled five times, most recently for 27 September 2009.

According to a report by International Crisis Group, “the recurrent rescheduling of elections and the fraud-tainted voter registration process are symptoms of deeper political problems”.

All the Africa’s electoral challenges in 2010:

Burkina Faso

President (1st round) – Nov 2010

Burundi

Communal, President (1st round), National Assembly, Senate (indirect) – Jul 2010

Central African Republic

Presidential & National Assembly – Mar 2010

Chad

National Assembly – 2010 (postponed from 2009 and 2006)

Côte d’Ivoire

President – Late Feb or early Mar 2010 (postponed from 29 Nov 2009)

National Assembly – 2010?

Egypt

People’s Assembly/Shura Council (half of members) – Nov 2010

Ethiopia

House of People’s Representatives, Regional State Councils – May 2010

Equatorial Guinea

President – Dec 2010

Ghana

Local Government – Aug 2010

Guinea

President 1st round – 31 Jan 2010 (postponed from 13 Dec 2009)

President 2nd round – 14 Feb 2010

National Assembly – 26 Mar 2010 (postponed from 11 Oct 2009)

Local Government – Dec 2010

Guinea-Bissau

President (1st round) moved forward to 28 Jun 2009 from Jun 2010, due to assassination of president

Lesotho

Local Government – Apr 2010

Mauritania

Senate (indirect) – Jan 2010

Mauritius

National Assembly – Jul 2010

Local Government – Oct 2010

Namibia

Regional Councils – Nov 2010

National Council (indirect) – ? 2010

Local before 1 Dec 2010

Rwanda

President (1st round) – 9 Aug 2010

São Tomé and Príncipe

National Assembly – 21 Feb 2010

Somaliland 

President January – 2010?

House of Representatives – Sep 2010

Local Government – late 2010

Sudan

President (1st round), National Assembly, Council of States, Southern Sudan President (1st round), Southern Sudan Assembly, State Legislatures, State Governors, Local Government - 11-19 Apr 2010 (postponed from Jul 2009)

Togo

President 28 – Feb 2010

United Republic of Tanzania Union

President, National Assembly, Zanzibar President. Zanzibar House of Representatives, Local Government – Oct 2010

Tunisia

Local Government – May 2010

Source: AfroOnline, January 08, 2010

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