Over the weekend, voters in the Central African Republic and the Republic of Guinea went to the polls in elections that could reshape leadership and democratic governance in these two African states.
In the Central African Republic, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra sought a third term after a 2023 constitutional change removed presidential term limits. While the vote has largely proceeded peacefully, critics have raised questions about whether the electoral environment has been sufficiently open and inclusive, with opposition parties raising concerns about fairness and the role of security actors on the ground.
In Guinea, citizens cast ballots in their first presidential election since the 2021 military coup that brought General Mamady Doumbouya to power. Doumbouya is widely expected to win, but political space has been restricted, and key opposition figures remain sidelined raising important questions about the credibility of the process and the future of democratic transition.
To help us unpack what these elections mean for democracy, governance, and regional stability, is Mr David Kofi Asante-Darko, research analyst with the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network and the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development.