When it comes to election observation, there’s often one rule for the West and another for everybody else. But with a wave of democratic backsliding occurring around the world, now may be the time to disrupt the status quo and reimagine election observation missions. In our eighth episode with African Arguments, Ansbert Ngurumo (Journalist), Nic Cheeseman (University of Birmingham), and Jessica Moody (King’s College London) join Judd Devermont to discuss shifting electoral processes, election safety, and democracy during the Covid-19 pandemic. Guests also unpack the mounting suppression facing opposition parties and assess how this will affect upcoming presidential elections in Tanzania and Côte d'Ivoire.  

Background Readings: