Africa's 2026 Elections: 11 Countries Go to the Polls in a Pivotal Year
Eleven African countries are scheduled to hold elections in 2026, making it one of the continent's most politically consequential years. The slate ranges from competitive multiparty contests to predictable outcomes where incumbents face little opposition.
Key Elections to Watch
- Ethiopia: The continent's second-largest country by population heads to the polls amid ongoing tensions in several regions
- Benin: Already held in April, with Finance Minister Wadagni winning 94% in a restricted field
- Djibouti: President Guelleh, in power since 1999, is pursuing a sixth term
- Cabo Verde and São Tomé e Príncipe: The island nations are expected to hold competitive races
According to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, roughly half the elections are expected to be genuinely competitive, while outcomes in the remainder are largely predictable due to incumbent advantages, restricted opposition, or dominant-party systems.
"Elections are only one measure of democratic health," the report notes. "The quality of the process — whether citizens can freely participate, whether opposition can organize, whether results are accepted — matters as much as the event itself."