Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast: An Overview of 2020 Elections.

This paper analyzes and compares three key elections selected among the ones held in 2020 in Africa, namely Ghana, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. The three cases were chosen according to demographic and geographical relevance and the regularity of elections. The Ghana elections confirmed a trend towards democracy and party consolidation, characterized by a two-party system. The trend of incumbent victory is also confirmed, although there is a decline in vote numbers. Both the two other cases under scrutiny shared problems of consolidation. In the case of Burkina, this was mainly due to the recent return to multipartism after the demise of Compaoré’s regime. Notwithstanding this, regular elections were held under the threat of terrorism in some regions. Ivory Coast confirms the weaknesses of the democratic process due mainly to the authoritarian inclinations of the power holders. These cases were included because they were considered more interesting and less problematic than those excluded. They too offer interesting hints on regime transition and the problems of consolidation that still affect Africa.