Soaring election fees lock out opposition in african polls

Elections where outcomes seem predetermined, races without suspense, and first-round victories for incumbents — these have become defining traits of presidential polls across Africa in 2025. The trend reveals a systematic effort to sideline opposition long before campaign posters even appear. Recent votes in Djibouti on April 10 and Benin on April 12 exemplify this pattern. In Djibouti, incumbent President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh secured re-election with a staggering 97.8% of the vote. In Benin, Romuald Wadagni — handpicked successor to Patrice Talon — claimed 94% of ballots cast. Both results reflect not competitive democracy, but electoral processes stripped of genuine opposition.