2023 African Election Calendar: All Elections Happening This Year

As nations have crucial elections, 2023 looks to be a hectic year for African politics and democracy.

Young people who are ready to see President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration end have high expectations for Nigeria’s next election in February.

Nigerians hope the election will produce leaders with the vigor to reverse their country’s slide as it struggles with an economic downturn and increased insecurity.

The front-runners in the contest to follow Buhari are Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party, and former governor of Lagos state Bola Tinubu.

Sierra Leone

In Sierra Leone, both the presidential and legislative elections are set for June. President Julius Maada Bio is expected to put himself forward for reelection.

Despite mounting anger over the high cost of living, it is hoped that the majority that his Sierra Leone People’s Party now enjoys in the national assembly would be kept.

Liberia

The presidential and parliamentary elections in Africa’s oldest republic in October will be a watershed moment for a country still recovering from years of civil war and a devastating pandemic. President George Weah has been chastised for failing to combat the country’s widespread corruption and for traveling to Qatar to watch the World Cup while the country was in recession.

Gabon

President Ali Bongo appears to be re-elected in Gabon, thanks to the implied support of members of his Gabonese Democratic Party. Despite having a stroke that made walking difficult, the ruling party does not appear willing to force its 63-year-old leader to resign. Gabon, which is rich in oil, has been ruled by the Bongo family since 1967.

Congo DR

December will see the general elections for the national assembly, senate, and president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Felix Tshisekedi, the country’s president since 2019, is anticipated to run for re-election. To contend with an opposition that has been putting up significant effort, Tshisekedi will need to recruit new friends. He had a falling out with the former president, whose backing gave him the presidency. Moise Katumbi has already said that he will run.

Tshisekedi would find it challenging to convince Congolese that he is the change they want given the turmoil raging in the country’s east.

2023 African Election Calendar