AFRICA’S GOVERNANCE RESPONSE TO COVID-19 | PRELIMINARY REPORT 2020
1.6 The Pandemic and Governance
As measures to contain COVID-19 place
operational
constraints
on
companies,
organisations and institutions across both the
public and the private sector, individuals are
increasingly being constrained in their engagement
and participation in the political and economic
sectors of their respective their countries. The
limitations have also affected certain aspects of
democratic processes and the wider civic life in
countries where social containment measures
have been introduced. Consequently, the quality
of governance as understood in normal times has
diminished. The risk of further marginalization of
underrepresented groups may be heightened as
the world and Africa grapple with the COVID-19
pandemic.
Table 1 below shows ten countries in Africa that
are scheduled to have presidential elections in
2020 as prescribed under their respective
constitutions. There is good reason to believe
that the COVID-19 pandemic may impact the
conduct of democratic elections in Africa due to
lockdowns and other social distancing measures
which have been imposed by almost all countries.
For example, Burundi, which is scheduled to
hold its general elections on May 20, has warned
that international observers will be placed under
mandatory 14-day quarantine due to Covid-19 3.
But, as Table 1 shows, to date, only Ethiopia has
postponed its scheduled election. Pandemicrelated concerns are not far-fetched or unfounded.
For example, when the Republic of Guinea held
its legislative elections in March 2020, some of
the officials in the national election management
body were infected by the virus, and at least one
case was fatal.
Table 1: African Presidential/Legislative Elections in 2020
Country
Togo
Type of Election
Date (2020)/ status
22 February Concluded
Presidential
Covid19
confirmed cases
199
Burundi
Presidential and Legislative
20 May
27
Malawi
Presidential
July
58
Ethiopia
Parliamentary
16 August (postponed
due to Covid-19)
261
Seychelles
Presidential
December
11
Tanzania
Presidential and Legislative
4 October
509
Cote d’Ivoire
Presidential and Legislative
31 October
1857
Guinea
Presidential
October
2298
Burkina Faso
Presidential and Legislative
November
766
Ghana
Presidential and Legislative
7 December
5127
Central African
Presidential and Legislative
Republic
27 December
179
Niger
Presidential and Legislative
27 December
854
Somalia
Parliamentary
December
1170
Source: Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), 2020 African Elections Calendar (updated December 2019) https://www.eisa.org.za/calendar2020php, accessed May 14, 2020. WHO Africa Update 13.05.20
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