Election watchers have deemed today a #SuperSunday in Africa, where people are voting in elections in Benin, Cape Verde, Congo-Brazzaville, Niger, Senegal and Zanzibar. To be more exact: Benin and Niger are holding run-off presidential elections; the poll in the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) is a first-round (and probably only-round) presidential election; Cape Verde’s poll is a parliamentary election; Zanzibar’s election is due to an annulment of an earlier poll; and Senegalese are voting on a referendum. Below are a few snapshots and a round-up of links to learn more about each election.
Because of constitutional term limits, incumbent Thomas Boni Yayi will step down from the presidency. Sunday’s election is a runoff between his hand-picked successor, Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou, and businessman Patrice Talon. In the first round of the election, held earlier this month, Zinsou won 28.4 percent of the vote and Talon won 24.8 percent.
For more on the Benin election, read this excellent pre-election briefing by Ella Abatan. For more on the roots of competitive democracy in Benin, see Rachel Beatty Riedl’s earlier Monkey Cage post (or get her award-winning book!). Finally, check out Vote229, a platform for Benin’s civil society organizations involved in the election.
Full Article: It’s a #SuperSunday in Africa, with elections being held in Benin, Cape Verde, Congo, Niger, Senegal and Zanzibar – The Washington Post.
