List of African countries expected to hold elections in 2025

By Peter Ochieng

Good gracious Lord, it is 2025!

According to msn.com, 2025 equals key number 9 after adding its digits: 2 + 0 + 2 + 5.

As such, 2025 will be reduced to the powerful number 9, which represents the closing of cycles, culmination, and transformation, a number associated with spiritual wisdom, altruism, and introspection.

In the spirit of renewal, several African countries are expected to go to the polls this year, to elect new leaders. Here is a rundown:

1. Comoros

Parliamentary elections will be held in Comoros on 12 January 2025. The polls will follow President Assoumani's controversial reelection in January 2024.

Opponents who claim the presidential election was fraudulent, are planning to boycott the parliamentary elections.

2. Togo

Togo was expected to hold its first senatorial elections on February 02, 2025, but the polls have been postponed to an unspecified date. The Senatorial polls will be followed by presidential elections.

Last year, Togo passed a controversial legislation where the president will now be elected by Members of Parliament, rather than by universal suffrage.

3. Burundi

Burundi’s Parliamentary elections are due on June 05, 2025.

In December 2023, the country’s Parliament validated a new electoral commission, with the upcoming elections expected to test Burundi's commitment to democracy, free and fair elections.

4. Gabon

Presidential and legislative polls are expected to be held in Gabon in August this year. If the polls go on as planned, it could mark Gabon's transition out of the current military regime.

5. Malawi

The country will hold its presidential elections on September 16.

Incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera is being challenged by former President Peter Mutharika who represents the main opposition party. The two competed in 2019 and in a 2020 run-off, where Chakwera won.

6. Seychelles

Presidential and Parliamentary elections will be conducted in Seychelles on September 27, 2025.

During the 2020 presidential election, the opposition gained power in the country for the first time since 1977.

7. Cameroon

Barring any postponement or calamity, Cameroonians will go to the polls to elect a new President in October, 2025. 91-year old Paul Biya, the world's oldest president will seek re-election for an eighth straight term.

8. Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast will also hold a general election in October, 2024.

9. Tanzania

General elections are due to be held in Tanzania in October 2025.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan who assumed office in March 2021 after the death of former President John Pombe Magufuli will face the fight of her life to remain in office.

10. Equatorial Guinea, CAR and Mali

Equatorial Guinea will hold Parliamentary polls in November, before passing the baton to Central African Republic (CAR) for presidential and legislative polls in December.

The year 2025 will end with parliamentary elections in Mali, in December.