Across Africa in 2026, who governs is settled three ways at once: by the ballot box, by backroom bargains, and by force. A comparative look.
Key Facts
—The frame. Across Africa, power is being settled three ways at once: ballot, bargain and force.
—The ballot. Nigeria’s Ekiti State re-elected its governor on June 20, a rare incumbent win.
—The bargain. Kenya’s ruling coalition pushed a contested tax bill through parliament, 122 votes to 40.
—The coalition. South Africa is still governed by a multi-party power-sharing deal among rivals.
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