Comprehensive African election calendar

Updated August 2010


country timeline presidential parliamentary/ legislative local govt recent
referenda
algeria Last election 9 Apr 2009 PNA & CoN: 17 May 2007 29 Nov 2007 17 Sep 1999
Voters endorse presidential peace plan to end 7 yrs of civil violence
Next election 2014 2012 PNA: 2012
CoN: 2013
Term of office 5 yrs PNA: 5 yrs
CoN: 6
5 yrs
angola Last election 29-30 Sep 1992 5 Sep 2008 No local government elections have been held, nor are any planned as yet  
Next election 2012 (postponed from late 2009) 2012
Term of office 5 yrs 4 yrs
benin Last election 1st round: 5 Mar 2006
2nd round: 19 Mar 2006
NA: 31 Mar 2007 20 Apr 2008  
Next election Mar 2011 NA: Mar 2011 2014
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 4 yrs 6 yrs
botswana Last election Late 2009
by NA
NA: 16 Oct 2009 16 Oct 2009 4 Oct 1997
Constitutional amendments to establish an Independent Electoral Commission approved
Next election 2014
by NA
NA: 2014 2014
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
burkina faso Last election 13 Nov 2005 NA: 6 May 2007 23 April 2006  
Next election 21 Nov 2010 NA: 2012 Apr 2011
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 5 yrs 5 yrs
burundi Last election 28 Jun 2010 NA 4 Jul 2005
SEN 29 Jul 2005 (indirect)
3 Jun 2005 28 Feb 2005
New Constitution approved
Next election 2015 NA 23 Jul 2010
SEN 28 Jul 2010 (indirect)
24 May 2010 (postponed from 21 May 2010)
Term of office 5 yrs NA & SEN: 5 yrs 5 yrs
cameroon Last election 11 Oct 2004 22 Jul 2007 22 Jul 2007  
Next election Oct 2011 2012 2012
Term of office 7 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
cape verde Last election 12 Feb 2006 NA: 22 Jan 2006 18 May 2008  
Next election Feb 2011 NA: Jan 2011 2012
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 5 yrs 4 yrs
central african republic Last election 1st Rnd 13 Mar 2005
2nd Rnd 8 May 2005
1st Rnd 13 Mar 2005
2nd Rnd 8 May 2005
local authorities appointed by president 25 Dec 2004
New Constitution approved
Next election 1st Rnd 23 Jan 2011
2nd Rnd 20 Mar 2011
1st Rnd 23 Jan 2011
2nd Rnd 20 Mar 2011
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs
chad Last election 3 May 2006 NA: 21 Apr 2002  
Next election 23 Apr 2011 NA: 28 Nov 2010 (postponed from 2009 and 2006) 12 Dec 2010
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 4 yrs
comoros Last election 1st round: 16 Apr 2006
2nd round: 14 May 2006
1st round: 6 Dec 2009
2nd round: 20 Dec 2009
IP: 10 Jun 2007 (Anjouan 15 & 29 Jun 2008)
IA: 2008
17 May 2009 constitutional amendments approved: Increased term of president to 5 yrs, abolished rotating presidency, concentrated power in Union government, reduce powers and costs of the island's governments (Island Presidents become Island Governors), Islam became state religion
Next election 7 Nov 2010 2014 IG: Apr or May 2011
IA: 2012
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs IG 4 yrs
IA 4 yrs
côte d'ivoire Last election 22 Oct 2000 NA: 10 Dec 2000 24-25 Mar 2001 23 Jul 2000
Constitution approved
Next election 31 Oct 2010 (postponed from 29 Nov 2009) NA: 2011? (postponed several times) postponed indefinitely
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 5 yrs 5 yrs
democratic republic of congo Last election First round 30 Jun 2006
Second round 29 Sep 2006
NA: 30 Jun 2006
Senate: 19 Jan 2007 (indirect by PA)
PA & Local: 29 Sep 2006 18 Dec 2005
New Constitution approved
Next election 27 Nov 2011 (2nd Rnd 25 Feb 2012) NA: 27 Nov 2011
Senate: 13 Jun 2012 (indirect by PA)
PA: 25 Feb 2012
Local: 31 Jan 1013
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs
djibouti Last election 8 Apr 2005 NA: 8 Feb 2008 RA & Communal: 10 & 31 Mar 2006  
Next election Apr 2011 NA: 2013 RA & Communal: Apr 2011
Term of office 6 yrs NA: 5 yrs RA & Communal: 5 yrs
egypt Last election Sep 2005 PA: 7 Nov - 7 Dec 2005
SC: 1-8 Jun 2010
8 Apr 2008  
Next election Sep 2011 PA: Nov 2010
SC: 2013
Apr 2012
Term of office 6 yrs PA: 5 yrs
SC: 6 yrs; half replaced every three year.
4 yrs
equatorial guinea Last election 29 Nov 2009 HPR: 4 May 2008 4 May 2008  
Next election 2016 HPR: 2013 2013
Term of office 7 yrs HPR: 5 yrs 5 yrs
eritrea Last election 1993
interim president
May 1997
Transitional NA formed
May 2003 23-25 Apr 1993
Independence for the Autonomous Region of Eritrea approved
Next election indefinitely postponed from 2001
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
ethiopia Last election 9 Oct 2007
by HPR
HoF: 13 & 19 Apr 2008
HPR: 15 May 2005
13 & 19 Apr 2008 Local government
15 May & 21 Aug 2005 RSCs
 
Next election 2013
by HPR
HPR: 23 May 2010
HoF: 2013
RSCs: 23 May 2010
Local government: 2013
Term of office 6 yrs 5 yrs (both Houses) RSCs & Local government: 5 yrs
gabon Last election 30 Aug 2009 NA 17 December 2006
SEN 18 Jan 2009
No data  
Next election 2016 NA Dec 2011
SEN 2015
Term of office 7 yrs NA 5 yrs
SEN 6 yrs
the gambia Last election 24 September 2006 25 Jan 2007 24 Jan 2008  
Next election 2011 2012 2012
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 4 yrs
ghana Last election 1st round: 7 Dec 2008
2nd round: 28 Dec 2008
7 Dec 2004 2006  
Next election Dec 2012 Dec 2012 District Assembly: 26 Oct 2010
Term of office 4 yrs 4 yrs 4 yrs
guinea Last election 21 Dec 2003 30 Jun 2002 Dec 2005 11 Nov 2001
Constitutional amendment to remove presidential term of office limits and increase term to 7 yrs approved
Next election 1st round 27 Jun, 2nd round 19 Sep 2010 2011? 2011?
Term of office 7 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
guinea-bissau Last election 1st round: 28 Jun 2009
2nd round: 26 Jul 2009
16 Nov 2008 There are no local governments  
Next election 2014 2012
Term of office 5 yrs 4 yrs
kenya Last election 27 Dec 2007 NA: 27 Dec 2007 27 Dec 2007 4 Aug 2010: Draft proposes more power for Prime Minister and less for President, devolution of power to regions and introduction of Senate and Supreme Court
Next election 2012 NA: 2012 2012
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 5 yrs 5 yrs
lesotho Last Election Monarchy: no presidential election 17 Feb 2007 30 Apr 2005  
Next election 2012 postponed from Apr 2010, no date set
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs
liberia Last election 11 Oct & 8 Nov 2005 HR & SEN 11 Oct 2005 30 Nov 2008  
Next election Oct 2011 HR Oct 2011
SEN Senior 2014, Junior 2011
Term of office 6 yrs HR 6 yrs
SEN Senior 9 yrs, Junior 6 yrs
 
libya Last election De facto chief of the state is Revolutionary Leader Col Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi, Leader of the Revolution, since 1969. One-party state.
The legislature is the General People's Congress which is indirectly elected for 3 yrs. The voters elect representatives for the basic people's congresses, which elect representatives to municipal people's congresses, which in turn elect delegates to the General People's Congress.
The executive, the General People's Committee is elected by the General People's Congress. The nominal head of state is the chairperson of the General People's Congress.
 
next election
term of office
madagascar Last election 3 December 2006 NA: 23 Sep 2007
Senate: 20 Apr 2008 (indirect)
Local government: 16 Mar 2008 On new Constitution scheduled for 12 Aug 2010, but then postponed to 17 Nov 2010
Next election 1 Jul 2011 (postponed from 26 Nov 2010) NA: 13 Apr 2011 (postponed from 30 Sep 2010)
Senate: Mar 2011 (indirect; moved forward from 2013)
Local government: Feb 2011 (moved forward from 2013)
Term of office 5 yrs NA 5 yrs
Senate: 5 yrs
5 yrs
malawi Last election 19 May 2009 19 May 2009 21 Nov 2000 14 Jun 1993
Introduction of a multi-party system approved by voters
Next election 2014 2014 23 Nov 2010 (postponed since 2000)
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
mali Last election 29 April 2007 NA: 1st round 1 Jul 2007; 2nd round 22 Jul 2007 20 Apr 2009  
Next election 2012 NA: 2012 2014
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 5 yrs 5 yrs
mauritania Last election 18 Jul 2009 NA 19 Nov 2006 (1st round), 3 Dec 2006 (2nd round)
Senate: 9 Aug 2009 (indirect)
Local and regional: 19 Nov 2006 25 Jun 2006
New constitution approved by electorate
Next election 2015 NA 2011
Senate: 2011 (indirect)
Local and regional: 2011
Term of office 6 yrs NA 5 yrs
SEN 6 yrs (1/3 retires every 2 yrs)
5 yrs
mauritius Last election 13 May 2008 by NA NA: 5 May 2010 Local: 2 Oct 2005
RRA: 10 Dec 2006
Next election 2013 by NA NA: 2015 Local: Oct 2010
RRA: 2011
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs Local: 5 yrs
RRA: 5 yrs
morocco Last election Monarchy. PM appointed by monarch after legislative elections AR 7 Sep 2007
AC 8 Sep 2006
12 Jun 2009
Next election AR 2012
AC 2015
2015
Term of office AR 5 yrs
AC 9 yrs
6 yrs
mozambique Last election 28 Oct 2009 28 Oct 2009 Local: 19 Nov 2008
Provincial: 28 Oct 2009
Next election 2014 2014 Local: 2013
Provincial: 2014
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
namibia Last election 27 & 28 Nov 2009 NA: 27 & 28 Nov 2009
NC: 2004 (indirect)
RC: 15 - 16 Nov 2004
Local: 14 May 2004
Next election 2014 NA: 2014
NC: Late 2010 (indirect by RCs)
RC: Nov 2010
Local: Before 1 Dec 2010
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 5 yrs
NC: 6 yrs
RC: 6 yrs
Local: 5 yrs
niger Last election 16 Nov & 4 Dec 2004 NA: 20 Oct 2009 27 Dec 2009 24 Oct 2010 new constitution
Next election 26 Dec 2010 NA: 2014 2014
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 5 yrs 5 yrs
nigeria Last election 21 Apr 2007 NA: 21 Apr 2007 State Assemblies and governors 14 Apr 2007
Local Jan-Mar 2008
Next election 2011 NA 2011 State Assemblies and governors 2011
Local 2012
Term of office 4 yrs 4 yrs 4 yrs
republic of the congo Last election 12 Jul 2009 SEN Jul 2008 (indirect)
NA 1st round: 24 Jun 2007 & 22 Jul 2007; 2nd round: 5 Aug 2007
29 Jun 2008 20 Jan 2002
New Constitution approved
Next election 2016 NA 2012
SEN 2014
2014
Term of office 7 yrs NA 5 yrs
SEN 6 yrs
6 yrs
rwanda Last election 25 Aug 2003 CD: 15-18 Sep 2008
Senate: 2003 (indirect)
20 Feb 2006 26 May 2003
New constitution approved
Next election 9 Aug 2010 CD: 2013
Senate: 2011 (indirect)
Local government 2011
Term of office 7 yrs CD: 5 yrs
Senate: 8 yrs
5 yrs
são tomé and príncipe Last election 30 Jul 2006 NA: 26 Mar 2006 27 Aug 2006
Next election Jul 2011 NA: 1 Aug 2010 2011
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 4 yrs 5 yrs
senegal Last election 25 Feb 2007 NA: 3 Jun 2007
Senate: 19 Aug 2007(indirect)
Regional & Local: 23 Mar 2009 (postponed from 18 May 2008) 7 Jan 2001
Constitutional amendments to abolish Senate and reduce presidential term to 5 yrs for future presidents approved
Next election 2012 NA: 2012 Regional & Local: 2014
Term of office 5 yrs NA & Senate: 5 yrs Regional & Local: 5 yrs
seychelles Last election 29-31 July 2006 10–12 May 2007 Local authorities are appointed by the government 15 - 18 June 1993
New Constitution approved
Next election Jul 2011 May 2012
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs
sierra leone Last election 1st round: 11 Aug 2007
2nd round: 8 Sept 2007
11 Aug 2007 5 Jul 2008
Next election 2012 2012 2012
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 4 yrs
somalia Last election 14 - 17 Jun 2004 & 10 Oct 2004
by Transitional Federal Government
Clan-based political structure, not multi-party democracy. Transitional govt has mandate to establish a Constitution but this has not occurred as yet. Somaliland (below) is a small breakaway republic in the northwest.  
Next election
Term of office
somaliland
(autonomous region)
Last election 26 Jun 2010 (postponed repeatedly from 31 Aug 2008) House of Representatives: 29 Sep 2005 15 Dec 2002  
Next election 2015 House of Representatives: Sep 2010 Late 2010? (Postponed from 2009 and 2008)
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
south africa Last Election 6 May 2009 by NA NA: 22 April 2009 PL: 22 April 2009
Local: 1 Mar 2006
17 Mar 1992
Whites approve the continuation of the white government's negotiations for a new majority government constitution
Next election 2014 (by NA) NA: 2014 PL: 2014
Local: 2011
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 5 yrs PL & Local: 5 yrs
southern sudan
(autonomous region)
Last election 11-19 Apr 2010 (postponed from Jul 2009) SSA: 11-19 Apr 2010 (postponed from Jul 2009) 11-19 Apr 2010 (postponed from Jul 2009) Jan 2011: Referendum due on whether southern autonomous region is remain part of Sudan or to succeed
Next election 2015 SSA: 2015 State and local: 2015
Term of office 5 yrs SSA: 5 yrs 5 yrs
sudan Last election 11-19 Apr 2010 (postponed from Jul 2009) CS & NA: 11-19 Apr 2010 (postponed from Jul 2009) State Legislatures, State Governors, local government: 11-19 Apr 2010 (postponed from Jul 2009)
Next election 2015 CS & NA: 2015 State Legislatures, State Governors, local government: 2015
Term of office 5 yrs NA 5 yrs
CS 6 yrs
5 yrs
swaziland Last election Monarchy: no presidential election. House of Assembly: 19 Sep 2008 19 Sep 2008  
Next election House of Assembly: 2013 2013
Term of Office 5 yrs 5 yrs
togo Last election 24 April 2005 14 Oct 2007    
Next election 4 Mar 2010 (postponed from 28 Feb 2010) 2012
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs
united republic of tanzania Last Election 14 Dec 2005 14 Dec 2005 ZHR & ZP: 30 Oct 2005
Local: 14 Dec 2005
31 Jul 2010: Zanzibar constitutional amendment referendum to permit the formation of coalition governments
Next election 31 Oct 2010 31 Oct 2010 ZHR, ZP & Local: 31 Oct 2010
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs ZHR & Local: 5 yrs
tunisia Last election 25 Oct 2009 Chamber of Deputies: 25 Oct 2009
Chamber of Councillors: 2005
8 May 2005  
Next election 2014 Chamber of Deputies: 2014
Chamber of Councillors: Jul 2011
9 May 2010
Term of office 5 yrs Chamber of Deputies: 5 yrs
Chamber of Councillors: 6 yrs
5 yrs
uganda Last election 23 Feb 2006 NA: 23 Feb 2006 28 Feb - 9 Mar 2006 & 21/25 May 2009
Next election 12 Feb - 12 Mar 2011 NA: 12 Feb - 12 Mar 2011 12 Feb - 12 Mar 2011
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 5 yrs 5 yrs
zambia Last Election 30 October 2008 (due to death of President Mwanamasa on the 19 Aug 2008) 28 Sep 2006 28 Sep 2006 17 Jun 1969
Constitutional amendment to give Parliament more power approved
Next election 2011 2011 2011
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
zanzibar
(autonomous region)
Last Election 30 Oct 2005 ZHR: 30 Oct 2005 14 Dec 2005  
Next election Oct 2010 ZHR: Oct 2010 Oct 2010
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
zimbabwe Last election 29 March 2008 1st round
27 Jun 2008 2nd round
HA, Sen 29 Mar 2008 Local government 29 Mar 2008 12 - 13 Feb 2000
New constitution to increase presidential power rejected by voters
Next election 2013 2013 2013
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
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