How to use the map: the basics

This African elections map shows you all the upcoming votes. Move around and click to find out more.

The colour tells you approximately when the election is:

• Red – This month
• Orange – Next month
• Yellow – In two months
• Green – Beyond that

The icon tells you who is up for election:

Want much more in-depth information about the elections?

The map just gives you the basic info. But you can get much more up-to-date and in-depth coverage if you sign up to our Insiders Newsletter:

• Information about the context and system behind every election.
• Analysis of the candidates, platforms, parties and significance of the vote, updated each week.
• The results and outcomes explained.
• Essential reading around the vote.
• The latest headlines from around the web.

For a taste of what to expect from our election coverage, check out this free preview from June 2018.

The Insiders Newsletter also includes succinct expert analysis and insights from a range of stories from across Africa each week. It costs as little as $8.33/month and helps fund African Arguments’ unique freely-accessible coverage.

Click here to subscribe

Upcoming African elections: A list

Here are the upcoming elections in list form. It includes links to relevant African Arguments articles.

October 2018

• 6: Gabon – National Assembly
• 7: Cameroon – President
  • [From African Arguments] Cameroon elections: President Biya set for routine, if Pyrrhic, victory
  • [From African Arguments] Cameroon’s ghost president
  • [From African Arguments] Cameroon: What one man’s 17-year ordeal tells us about Biya’s regime
• 7: São Tomé and Príncipe – National Assembly
• 13: Côte d’Ivoire – Regional and municipal councils

November 2018

• 7: Madagascar – President and National Assembly (run-off 19 December)
  • [From African Arguments] Madagascar elections: 36 candidates, 4 (ex-)presidents, and a lot of money
• 18: Guinea-Bissau – National Assembly
• 25: Mali – National Assembly (second round 16 December)
• 30: Chad – National Assembly

December 2018

• 10: Libya – President and National Assembly
• 20: Togo – National Assembly
• 23: DR Congo – President and National Assembly
  • [From African Arguments] How Kabila and the mining giants went from best friends to adversaries
  • [From African Arguments] Divide and rule: The problem with the DRC’s electoral system
  • [From African Arguments] Ahead of DRC elections, Kabila eyes short-terms gains from big miners
  • [From African Arguments] Why Congo’s decision to open national parks to drilling isn’t really about oil
• 31: Equatorial Guinea – National Assembly (not confirmed)

Beyond [being updated]

• January: Guinea – National Assembly (date to be confirmed)
• 16 February: Nigeria – President
  • [From African Arguments] Can Atiku unseat President Buhari in Nigeria’s 2019 elections?
  • [From African Arguments] “It’s everywhere”: Vote-buying gets more brazen in Nigeria ahead of 2019
  • [From African Arguments] Defections and deflections: Who now holds the balance of power in Nigeria?
  • [From African Arguments] Nigeria’s grand plan to stop fake news in 2019? Fight fire with fire.
  • [From African Arguments] Nigeria’s 2019 elections: The preparations, people and prospects
• 24 February (tbc): Senegal – President
• 2 March: Nigeria – National Assembly
• 21 May: Malawi – President and National Assembly
• 15 October: Mozambique – President, National Assembly, Local
• Date tbc: South Africa – President, National Assembly, Provincial Legislatures