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Democracy in Africa: on hold in Somalia, on a precipice in Ivory Coast

Posted by: The Conversation Global

Date: Friday, 24 July 2020

 

Often across the African continent it feels like one step forwards, two steps back when it comes to democracy. No sooner has progress been made in one area than it’s offset by unhelpful developments in another. Take the fragile political stakes for democratisation in Ivory Coast, where the sudden death of the prime minister, Gon Coulibaly, is threatening to unravel a carefully orchestrated presidential succession plan. This would have seen him replace the incumbent Alassane Ouattara. Adem K Abebe explains why, for the sake of democracy in the country, Ouattara should not run for a third term.

Somalia too was poised until recently to take its first tentative steps towards abandoning its undemocratic way of choosing leaders. The country hasn’t conducted a direct popular vote since 1969. But polling has been put on hold until next year. Fatuma Ahmed Ali and Doreen Muyonga set out what’s at stake.

Thabo Leshilo

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