Did you know that 30% of the world’s elections in 2024 are taking place in Africa?

Out of the eight elections scheduled in Africa for the first half of 2024, six managed to cross the finish line—yes, a respectable 75% success rate.

For the first time in South Africa‘s history, no party secured a majority, setting the stage for the country’s first-ever coalition government. Meanwhile, in Rwanda, President Paul Kagame claimed a fourth seven-year term with a sweeping 98% of the vote, a result overshadowed by concerns of limited electoral competition. Senegal also marked a historic milestone by electing the youngest president on the continent, signaling a surge in youth involvement in the political sphere of this Sahel nation. However, elections in Mali and Burkina Faso were postponed indefinitely, underscoring the region’s ongoing political instability.

With this backdrop, AHEAD Africa’s partner, the East and Horn of Africa Observers Network (E-HORN), hosted a thought-provoking webinar titled “Strengthening Democracy: A Review and Strategic Outlook for African Elections in 2024″ to explore the lessons, successes, challenges, and recommendations from Africa’s elections in the first half of 2024.

Aisha Dabo, Programmes Coordinator at Africtivistes; Banolo Magkale, Programme Manager at the University of Pretoria; Ibrahim Faruk, Programme Coordinator at Yiaga Africa; and Anne Katuhrima, an Election Expert from Kenya, joined the session to convey a clear message: ”elections are not a one-time event but a continuous journey, and all actors are responsible for sustaining democracy.”