2015: Africa's political landscape in review

2015 saw many African countries in election mood

In Nigeria there was a peaceful transfer of power between civilian presidents while the incumbents retained power in Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Togo and Sudan.

In other African states, like Ethiopia, the ruling party won unanimously all the seats including in the house of representatives through their party EPRDF. In Lesotho the ruling party failed to garner the majority seats leaving it with scant authority in parliament.

In Tanzania the tough Magufuli stretched more than the other contestants through Africa’s longest serving party Chama Cha Mapinduzi. In Burkina faso, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré won Novembers presidential election.

Kabore who won by 53.5 percent vote in the 14-candidate race was a former prime minister and the president of the National Assembly under the longtime leader Blaise Compaore. The former president Compaore ruled for 27 years and was face with an attempt coup by his own guards.

Burundi is still experiencing crisis after Pierre Nkurunziza secured his third term as president in violation of the Arusha Accord.

Burundi has been rocked by violence since April 2015 after Nkurunzinza announce his bid to vie for the third time which was unconstitutional.

According to the United Nations, at least 400 people have died in Burundi’s violence and 220,000 fled to the neighbouring countries.

Seychelles had planned to hold its elections early 2016 but the government then moved it to late 2015. The former President James Michel retained his seat after attaining 50.1% of the casted votes.

In Central Africa, the long awaited elections were scheduled for 30th December 2015. The polls had been repeatedly postponed due to violence.

#CentralAfricanRepublic polls now scheduled for 30 December, UN reports via UN_News_Centre https://t.co/NF0PRE9mWs pic.twitter.com/Tmw5uMZMAG

— UN GA President (@UN_PGA) December 29, 2015

In 2015 many African countries were faced with numerous challenges. Countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger got a blow from the intensified Boko Haram attacks that have claimed thousands of lives in West Africa.

Corruption also had its effects in many countries in Africa. In Kenya, the President Uhuru Kenyatta had to sack several ministers whose names have been mentioned in various corruption reports.