Electoral process in Africa: The impact of COVID-19 and challenges for the EU

Héla Slim

doi:10.1177/1781685820971223

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a considerable impact on global economic and intercontinental geopolitical relations, and is thus significantly reshaping our world. The coronavirus crisis is also affecting democracy and the electoral process in Africa, with important implications for the rule of law, democracy and security. While 2020 started as a pivotal year for African Union–EU relations, the coronavirus has disrupted the agenda and raises questions about the repercussions of the pandemic on not only EU foreign policy but also cooperation between the two continents.

Highlights

Around the world we see elections being postponed due to the coronavirus crisis
The research reveals that individuals who ‘think elected officials don’t care about the opinions of ordinary people are more likely to be unhappy with how democracy is working in their country’ (Connaughton et al 2020)
The crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic goes way beyond the sector of health and has affected the exercise of democracy, the rule of law and security in both continents, which have been confronted with difficult choices with regard to holding and postponing elections

Summary

Introduction

In the context of COVID-19, at least 67 countries (Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance 2020) have postponed elections, while 49 have held them as initially planned despite the health crisis. The research reveals that individuals who ‘think elected officials don’t care about the opinions of ordinary people are more likely to be unhappy with how democracy is working in their country’ (Connaughton et al 2020) In such a situation, countries face a real dilemma between holding and postponing elections. In 2014, Ebola erupted in West Africa It was an important election year for war-torn Liberia, which was experiencing a political and security crisis, and a significant health threat. Assistance to the health sector aimed at containing the coronavirus crisis, comes at the expense of funding for other essential sectors for sustainable development, including enhanced cooperation on democratic governance and the rule of law, the very cornerstones of peace and security

The EU Security Union Strategy

Findings

Conclusion