Soaring election fees lock out opposition in west african polls

Scrutin after scrutin, the pattern repeats across West Africa: presidential elections are becoming faits accomplis before campaign posters even hit the streets. The latest examples came in quick succession in Djibouti and Benin, both held in April 2025, where opposition candidates vanished from the ballots before the first vote was cast.

In Djibouti, opposition stalwart Alexis Mohamed abandoned his bid under pressure, citing both security threats and “crippling candidate fees” that made formal participation impossible. Meanwhile in Benin, the presidential election played out as a one-horse race: Romuald Wadagni, handpicked successor to incumbent Patrice Talon, claimed 94% of ballots cast. Across the continent, similar dynamics unfolded in Niger, Senegal, and Burkina Faso, where high nomination costs and opaque qualification processes systematically sidelined challengers.