Urgent Need to Protect Human Rights in African Elections

TLDR

• Many African countries face violence and turmoil during general elections, as seen recently in Zambia where the Electoral Commission halted vote counting due to unrest from the ruling party's opponents.
• Opposition claims of election tampering arose after the elections held last Thursday in Zambia.
• Similar unrest occurred in Cameroon during the controversial presidential election on October 12 last year, where President Paul Biya remained in power amid protests.
• Ivory Coast experienced campaign-related violence in 2025, with President Alassane Ouattara winning another term despite facing protests and arrests of opposition activists.
• The 2025 election process in Guinea-Bissau was marred by significant political tensions and ultimately disrupted by a military coup in November 2025, according to BBC reports.