JANUARY
22 - Cape Verde: The ruling African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) retained power in National Assembly
elections, winning an absolute majority of votes cast. The main opposition Movement for Democracy (MpD) maintained its significant
presence in the legislative body. The Independent and Democratic Cape Verdean Union (UCID), who chose to only field candidates
in one constituency (Săo Vicente), managed to win two seats. Although minor technical problems were reported in a few areas
on election day, the polls were considered free, fair, and transparent by observers.
FEBRUARY
12 - Cape Verde: Incumbent Pedro Pires of the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) narrowly defeated
Carlos Veiga, a former Prime Minister and candidate of the opposition Movement for Democracy (MpD) in presidential elections.
The votes of Cape Verdeans in the diaspora played a significant roll in the poll's outcome. While Veiga won 50.01% nationally
compared to Pires' 49.99% (a difference of 24 votes), he won only 34.86% of the diaspora vote, tipping the outcome in favor
of Pires. Like all other elections that have taken place in this island nation since 1991, the campaign and electoral process
were conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.
23 - Uganda:
MARCH
5 - Benin: In elections to choose a successor to incumbent President Mathieu Kérékou, none of the 26 candidates captured
the absolute majority required to avoid a run-off. The two frontrunners - Yayi Boni, an economist standing as an independent
candidate and Adrien Houngbédji, a veteran politician who heads the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD) - will face each other
in a second round later this month. The campaign period was reportedly calm, orderly and peaceful. Logistical problems were
reported in some areas on election day, but had no significant effect on the poll's outcome. Observers have endorsed the election
as having been free, fair, and transparent.
10 & 31 - Djibouti: The ruling People's Rally for Progress (RPP) won a majority of seats in all of the country's regional and
communal assemblies.
19 - Benin: In the presidential run-off, independent candidate Yayi Boni defeated Adrien Houngbédji of the Democratic
Renewal Party (PRD). The hastily organized poll took place in an atmosphere of calm with fewer administrative delays reported
when compared to the first round. Election observers declared the poll generally free and fair.
APRIL
16 - Comoros: Voters on the island of Anjouan went to the polls in the first stage of a two round process meant to choose
a successor to incumbent President Azali Assoumani. Out of a field of thirteen candidates, the top three finishers - Ahmed
Abdallah Mohamed Sambi, Mohamed Djaanfari, and Ibrahim Halidi - will compete in a nationwide election (second round) on 14
May. Election day was largely peaceful, although delays were reported at some polling stations. Observers declared the poll
generally free and fair.
MAY
3 - Chad: Idriss Déby Itno, candidate of the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), easily won a third term in
office against four lesser-known politicians. Major opposition parties boycotted the election after the government failed
to delay the poll and institute electoral reforms. Despite threats by rebel groups to disrupt voting throughout the country,
election day was largely peaceful. The electoral commission reported a turnout of slightly over 60%, a figure that is highly
disputed by journalists and the opposition, who say that participation was extremely low.
14 - Comoros: Moderate Islamist Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi, who finished first in the 16 April Anjouan primary, defeated
two other candidates in a nationwide election. Observers declared the poll credible and transparent. Sambi's inauguration
will mark the first transfer of power between elected civilian presidents since the country's independence in 1975.
JUNE
25 - Mauritania: Citizens endorsed a new constitution that introduces presidential term limits by an overwhelming majority.
Acceptance of the document means that elections scheduled for late 2006 and early 2007 will take place as planned. No major
incidents were reported during the campaign period or on election day. Election observers praised the conduct and administration
of the poll.
JULY
28-30 - Seychelles: Incumbent President James Michel of the Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF) secured a narrow victory
in his first election since taking office in April 2004. Opposition candidate Wavel Ramkalawan, representing an alliance of
his Seychelles National Party (SNP) and the Democratic Party (DP), conceded defeat soon after the outcome was apparent. A
third candidate, Philippe Boulle, won less than 1% of the vote. Observers considered the poll largely free and fair.
30 - Congo-Kinshasa: Historic elections, the first multiparty poll in 41 years, took place with thirty-three candidates competing
for the presidency. Incumbent President Joseph Kabila finished first, but failed to secure the majority required for an outright
victory. He will face John-Pierre Bemba of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) in an October run-off election.
The election was deemed credible by observers from the European Union (EU) and the Carter Center.
30 - Săo Tomé and Príncipe: Fradique de Menezes maintained his position in the country's fourth multiparty presidential election. His
main opponent Patrice Trovoada (son of former President Miguel Trovoada), who was supported by nine political parties which
included his Independent Democratic Action (ADI) party and the Movement for the Liberation of Săo Tomé and Príncipe-Social
Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD), finished a distant second to the incumbent. A third candidate, independent Nilo Guimarăes, won
less than 1% of the vote. Election observers praised the peaceful campaign period and deemed the entire process free, fair,
and transparent.
SEPTEMBER
22 - The Gambia: President Yahya Jammeh of the ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) party
secured a third term in office, defeating two candidates from the country's divided opposition. Ousainou Darboe, who finished
second and represented a three-party coalition, rejected the result claiming that intimidation of voters and the media prevented
a fair poll from taking place. In its interim statement, the Commonwealth observer mission praised the Independent Electoral
Commission's handling of the election, noting that "the process on election day was well organized and voters were able to
express their will." Despite this, the group highlighted events in the lead up to election day that "had the potential of
affecting the outcome." These included instances of abuse of the incumbency, such as the use of state security services to
demonstrate support for President Jammeh and biased state media coverage during the campaign period. It was also noted that
the government failed to adhere to a Commonwealth-backed memorandum of understanding that was supposed to strengthen the democratic
process in the country by creating a level playing field between the incumbent and opposition candidates.
28 - Zambia: Incumbent President Levy Mwanawasa of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) won a second and final
term in office following a hotly contested election. The main challenger, Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front (PF) acknowledged
Mwanawasa's victory but claimed that the vote was "stolen" through poll fraud and other irregularities. Sata initially led
by a substantial margin when the first results were released by the electoral commission. This lead, however, continued to
diminish and Mwanawasa eventually overtook him, as tallies from remote areas of the country were known. Angered Patriotic
Front supporters responded by rioting in parts of Lusaka and the Copperbelt province, which ended with police intervention.
In the concurrent National Assembly elections, four parties (the MMD, PF, United Liberal Party, and the National Democratic
Focus), one coalition (the three-party United Democratic Alliance), and two independents won seats in the country's legislative
body. Local government elections were also held. Observers' verdicts on the election's legitimacy were unanimous in noting
that the polls represented a significant improvement over the controversial 2001 vote, which was marred by serious irregularities.
The European Union Election Observation Mission described the elections as "generally well administered" with the Electoral
Commission of Zambia managing the polls in an "independent and largely professional manner." The generally peaceful campaign
period was also praised. The mission noted that the legal framework provided for the conducting of democratic elections, but
reforms were needed in some key areas. Other problems raised included insufficient legal provisions to regulate campaign spending
by parties and candidates, omissions from the final voter list suggesting imperfections in voter registration, and bias in
the state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation's news coverage that favored the ruling party.
OCTOBER
29 - Congo-Kinshasa: Joseph Kabila easily defeated his opponent Jean-Pierre
Bemba in the presidential run-off election. Bemba contested the result, but eventually accepted the Congolese Supreme Court's
ruling that validated Kabila's victory. Provincial assembly elections also took place. Election day was largely calm in most
areas, although incidents of violence were reported in the northern Equateur Province and in the eastern region of Ituri.
Polling was repeated in the violence-affected areas over the following days. Most election observer missions noted that the
vote counting process was quicker and smoother than in the first round. They also concluded that, while there were incidents
of irregularities and fraud, the number of votes affected weren't significant enough to alter the final outcome.
NOVEMBER
19 - Mauritania: In the first round of National Assembly elections,
43 out of 95 seats were decided. The remaining 52 seats will be filled in a second round on 3 December. Concurrent municipal
elections were also held.
DECEMBER
03 - Madagascar: President Marc Ravalomanana defeated 13 other
challengers and won a second five-year term in office. Fears that the poll might rekindle the political animosities that appeared
during the 2001 presidential election proved largely unfounded. While the lead up to the vote was largely calm, there was
a botched coup attempt in November. Election day was also generally peaceful, although voters reportedly burned a ballot box
in the city of Toliara. Some opposition candidates initially contested the results and there were reports of irregularities,
but election observers declared the vote largely free and fair. The country's High Constitutional Court found no evidence
of widespread irregularities and confirmed Ravalomanana's victory.
03 - Mauritania: A coalition of former opposition parties will
form the largest bloc in the National Assembly after the holding of a second round run-off election. A significant number
of independents won representation in the legislative body. The former ruling party was reduced to seven seats. Peaceful conditions
prevailed throughout the campaign period and both rounds of voting. Observers described the election as largely free, fair,
and transparent.
17 - Gabon: The ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG)
and its allies maintained control of the National Assembly in legislative elections. The opposition, which largely boycotted
the 2001 vote, chose to participate and increased its representation in the body. The lackluster campaign period was followed
by a generally peaceful election day, although logistical problems in several electoral districts caused the vote to be delayed
by a week in the affected areas. Voter turnout was reportedly low throughout the country. As with all elections held in Gabon
since multiparty politics were introduced in the early 1990's, the poll's fairness can be questioned due to the ruling party's
overwhelming control of state resources and the lack of an equal playing field for the political opposition.
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