- At least 9 presidential elections are scheduled across the continent over the course of 2025, as well as 7 legislative, 2 senatorial, 2 municipal, and 2 referendums
ISTANBUL
Africa will witness a series of significant elections in 2025, with several countries heading to the polls to elect their leaders and representatives.
Anadolu has compiled a list of all the elections scheduled to take place across the continent this year.
Gabon
Gabon is set to hold presidential elections on April 12, following a referendum last November that approved a new Constitution. The referendum took place more than a year after a military coup ousted President Ali Bongo in August 2023, bringing Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema to power as transitional president.
Nguema is expected to run in the upcoming elections in the Central African nation, which has a population of around 2.4 million.
Burundi
Burundi will hold legislative elections on June 5, followed by senatorial elections on July 23. The National Assembly, which has 123 seats, last held elections in 2020.
The ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Front for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) currently holds a majority in parliament. The Central African country, with a population of 13.5 million, has been governed by President Evariste Ndayishimiye since 2020.
Malawi
Malawi will hold both presidential and legislative elections on Sept. 16. According to preliminary voter registration figures released by the Malawi Electoral Commission in December, approximately 2.5 million out of the country’s 21.7 million citizens are eligible to vote.
President Lazarus Chakwera, in office since 2020, will be seeking reelection. The National Assembly, last elected in 2019, consists of 193 seats, with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) holding 62 and the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) holding 55, with independent lawmakers and the United Transformation Movement party.
Seychelles
Seychelles is scheduled to hold presidential and legislative elections on Sept. 27. The Indian Ocean island nation, home to nearly 100,000 people, has 56,730 registered voters.
President Wavel Ramkalawan, in office since 2020, has announced his candidacy for reelection. The ruling party, Linyon Demokratik Seselwa, currently holds a majority in the 35-seat National Assembly, which will also be up for renewal.
Guinea
Guinea’s transitional president, Mamadi Doumbouya, has announced that the West African nation will return to constitutional order in late 2025 through a referendum and general elections.
In his New Year's address, Doumbouya, who seized power in a coup on Sept. 5, 2021, outlined plans for a "new consensual constitution" to be adopted by referendum. He also detailed a phased electoral process, starting with municipal elections, followed by legislative and presidential elections.
Cameroon
Cameroon is set to hold presidential elections in October. President Paul Biya, in power since 1982, has announced his candidacy.
So far, 10 other Cameroonian political figures have declared their intention to run. The Central African country, with a population of around 30 million, had over 7.8 million registered voters in the last election, according to Elections Cameroon (ELECAM).
Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast is scheduled to hold a presidential election in October. The West African nation, home to around 30 million people, has been governed by President Alassane Ouattara since 2010.
Having been reelected twice, most recently in 2020, Ouattara has recently signaled his intention to seek another term. Among the potential candidates are former Prime Minister Pascal Affi N’Guessan, businessman Tidjane Thiam, and former first lady Simone Gbagbo, ex-wife of former President Laurent Gbagbo, who is also expected to run.
Tanzania
Tanzania is among the nations set to elect a president in October. The East African country, with a population of around 67 million, has been led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan since 2021.
Hassan took office following the death of former President John Magufuli, who was reelected in 2020. She is widely expected to seek re-election.
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau announced Tuesday that it plans to hold presidential and legislative elections simultaneously on a yet-to-be-determined date between Oct. 23 and Nov. 25, according to state-run Agencia de Noticias da Guine.
The West African country, home to around 2 million people, has been governed by President Umaro Sissoco Embalo since 2020. The National Assembly last held elections in 2023, with the Inclusive Alliance Platform/Terra Ranka Coalition securing 54 of 102 seats.
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic will hold presidential elections in December. President Faustin-Archange Touadera, who has been in office since 2016, has served two terms. It remains unclear whether Touadera will seek a third term or who else might enter the race. The country has a population of approximately 5.6 million.
Togo
Togo will hold its first-ever senatorial elections on Feb. 15, following its 2024 transition from a presidential to a parliamentary system under President Faure Gnassingbe, who has ruled since 2005. The newly established Senate will serve as the upper legislative chamber, with two-thirds of its members elected by local representatives and the remaining one-third appointed by the prime minister.
The West African nation, home to about 9 million people, last held legislative and regional elections on April 29, 2024. The ruling Union for the Republic (UNIR) party secured 108 out of 113 seats in the National Assembly, with 430,000 citizens casting their votes, according to state-run Agence Togolaise de Presse.
Comoros
Comoros was the first African country to hold elections in 2025. The East African archipelago, with a population of about 900,000, held the first round of its legislative elections on Jan. 12. Around 330,000 people cast their ballots, with the ruling Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros (CRC) securing 29 out of 33 seats in parliament, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI).
Four constituencies where results were annulled following opposition challenges will hold rerun elections on Jan. 30. The second round of legislative elections, alongside municipal elections, is scheduled for Feb. 16. Comoros last held presidential elections in 2024, with President Azali Assoumani securing a fourth five-year term.
