Category Archives: Elections

Congosa politics: Rumours and elections in Sierra Leone, by Diana Szanto

Congosa in Krio means gossiping and spreading rumour, but its connotations are much darker than in English. It equals with name spoiling. In a society where attack against somebody’s public image can meet mundane as well as occult retaliation, gossiping … Continue reading

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Can you imagine? Reflections on the SL elections and implications for penal policy and practice, by Andrew Jefferson and Luisa Schneider

Sierra Leone has a new president. And despite being challenged prior to the elections, the two party-system dominated once again. After two five-year terms under Ernest Bai Koroma of All Peoples Congress (APC), the second giant, the Sierra Leone Peoples … Continue reading

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Sierra Leone General Elections 2018 – A personal diary, by Diana Szanto

On the 4th of April, I was sitting on the veranda of a restaurant in Lungi and watched mesmerized the police officer next to me who, in his full gear, consumed bitter wine sold in small plastic packets. As he … Continue reading

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Jostling for power: Sierra Leone’s election runoff, by Luisa Enria and Jamie Hitchen

After six days of patiently waiting, during which 25% increments of Sierra Leone’s 7 March presidential vote were gradually released, on the evening of 13 March, chair of Sierra Leone’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) Mohamed Conteh announced final results and … Continue reading

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Generation Terrorists: The Politics of Youth and the Gangs of Freetown, by Kieran Mitton

Youth at Risk – Youth as Risk On the evening of the 15th February, six leading presidential candidates for the Sierra Leone presidential elections took to the stage. Over three hours of a live broadcasted debate, each answered questions about … Continue reading

Posted in Big Men, democratisation, Election violence, Elections, Social protest, Youth | Tagged | 3 Comments

The legacy of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: Why ‘great aspiration’ is not quite enough, by Leena Vastapuu and Maria Martin de Almagro

The first elected woman head of state in Africa, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has just stepped down from her office in Liberia. Her successor George Weah assumed the position on 22 January 2018. In a recent interview with CNN entitled “Why … Continue reading

Posted in democratisation, Elections, Gender, Governance, politics, Women's rights | Tagged | 1 Comment

The New Gambia, by Niklas Hultin

It finally became clear on January 21, 2017, that Yahya Jammeh, the long-serving autocratic president of The Gambia would step down and leave the country. The road to this point was a twisty one. Jammeh had lost the December 1, … Continue reading

Posted in Conflict, democratisation, Election violence, Elections, Governance, Perspectives on Power, Popular Uprisings, Social protest | Tagged | 1 Comment

One year after the elections: a deceptive calm in Burundi? by Mimmi Söderberg Kovacs

The car stops and the driver turns off the ignition and leans back in the seat. Before us winds a long queue of cars and minivans in the afternoon sun. People have gone out of their cars and sit in … Continue reading

Posted in Conflict economies, democratisation, Election violence, Elections, Governance, politics, Popular Uprisings, Social protest, Urban issues, Violence | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Inner Beast released after Ugandan Elections 2016, Marianne Bach Mosebo

The Ugandan Presidential Election in 2016 left many Ugandans frustrated and angry at the election process and the announcement of the incumbent, President Yoweri Museveni, as the winner with approximately 60% of the votes. Unfortunately, rather than uniting the Ugandan … Continue reading

Posted in #Ugandadecides, democratisation, Election violence, Elections, Governance, Perspectives on Power | Tagged | 2 Comments

Elections in Uganda 2016: Rumours and the Terror of the Unknown, by Henni Alava and Cecilie Lanken Verma

Two parallel realities appear to exist in pre-election Uganda, especially when seen from the northern region of Acholiland ten years after it was declared ‘post-conflict’. In one, everything is ‘fine’: the elections will be smooth. There will be no problems … Continue reading

Posted in #Ugandadecides, democratisation, Election violence, Elections, Governance, politics, Social protest | 4 Comments