Almost every election in Africa brings accusations that people have been registered to vote who are not entitled to do so – and in some cases these accusations relate to entire communities or ethnic groups and not just individual errors or cases of fraud. In Côte d’Ivoire, those whose nationality has been questioned have notoriously also been referred to as “betail electoral” (“electoral cattle”); but the same accusation is present in many other countries. Reliable voter registration depends on clarity and non-discrimination in the law and on reliable identification.
By Dancan Bwire IN SHORT: Outspoken Kenyan MP Aden Duale did not sensationally say millions of refugees in Kenya would be granted citizenship and allowed to vote. This graphic quoting him is fake. A graphic attributing a controversial quote to […]
from ALLOYCE KIMBUNGA DAR-ES-SALAAM, (CAJ News) – TANZANIA stands accused of stripping some indigenous Maasai citizens of their right to vote ahead of the local elections in November. Avaaz, a global campaign network and non-profit organisation, has alleged that some […]
Par Abdoulaye Villard Sanogo Pauvre nationalité ivoirienne ! Tiraillée de toute part, maltraitée, agressée, défigurée, elle n’en peut visiblement plus de souffrir le martyre. Alors, comme une mouche qui s’invite à un copieux dîner, elle s’est assise à la table […]
By Ayang Macdonald The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has announced that biometric voter registration will begin next month as part of preparations for the country’s general elections slated for September 16, 2025. MEC Chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, made the announcement […]
Three-country investigation shows digital IDs in Africa failing to deliver promised democratic and development boost, while making fortunes for tech vendors Some of the world’s poorest countries have been investing heavily in digital ID systems which it is claimed will […]
By Nana Konadu Agyeman The Electoral Commission (EC) can now go ahead and lay a bill in Parliament to ensure that the Ghana national identification card, commonly known as Ghana Card will be the sole document of identification of citizenship […]
Malawi Law Society (MLS) says its deeply worried with the recently amended electoral law which recognises exclusive use of the national ID as the only valid proof of voter eligibility for registration as this will deter most Malawians from voting. […]
By Sheila Ponnie Juba, South Sudan — Since gaining independence in 2011, South Sudanese residents have been working to build their country, the world’s youngest nation. However, many citizens fear a technicality — the lack of a required National Identification […]
The Electoral Commission (EC) has aborted plans to use a new Constitutional Instrument (C.I) to govern the 2024 General Election. This means that the Ghana Card will not be the sole identity document for the next voters’ registration exercise ahead […]
Par Coralie Pierret A l’approche des scrutins généraux du 20 décembre, les discours incendiaires contre les « faux Congolais » ont ressurgi et gagnent du terrain. Fiston s’avance timidement dans la discothèque. En cette heure matinale à Goma, l’une des principales villes de […]
By David MUKENDI Congolese voters are hoping the government keeps its promise to produce new ID cards for the first time in decades after preparations for December elections finally offered them official documents. National ID cards were last issued in […]
By Ayang Macdonald Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) is hoping to be second time lucky in convincing parliament to approve its plan of making the Ghana Card the only ID document required for voter registration. The EC plans to take back […]