Africa 2024: Elections Threaten Status Quo Amid Unrest and Economic Challenges

South Africa's ANC faces potential loss of majority, Senegal's opposition leader barred from running, and Sahel region grapples with political instability.

• South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) is facing its toughest election since the end of apartheid, with polls suggesting it could lose its majority for the first time.
• South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been embroiled in a corruption scandal, and the country is grappling with high unemployment, failing energy infrastructure, and soaring crime rates.
• In Senegal, President Macky Sall has withdrawn his candidacy for a third term, while jailed opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has been prevented from running due to a conviction.
• Ghana, once a flourishing West African nation, is sinking into debt and living standards are falling, leading to potential power shifts in the upcoming election.
• In the Sahel region, Mali and Burkina Faso have postponed elections, citing instability and security issues, while the military governments in these countries face pressure to return to civilian rule.

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