All elections are a transaction of sorts. Citizens trade their vote for certain outcomes that are important to them. (Photo/ Flickr/ Heinrich-Boll-Stiftung)

The Logic Of Buying Votes In Africa: What Works, What Doesn’t, And What It All Means

When vote buying is successful, it works mostly because it is a signaling mechanism and not really because of the cold, hard monetary value of the bribe


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In 2015, Al-Shabaab terror groups began to cut mobile internet in areas it controls in southern Somalia - perhaps acting as an inspiration to African governments. (AU UN IST PHOTO/ David Mutua)

The Digital Enemy: Why Are African Governments So Afraid Of Social Media And The Internet?

The list of African countries that have blocked access to social media and the internet during elections and other politically sensitive periods is growing; there were at least 16 instances last year alone.


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Materials from the last presidential election in 2011. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is not up for re-election. (Photo/ Brittany Danisch)

After Somalia’s Vote, Here Are Africa’s Other Elections In 2017: Some Are Going To Be Dicey

Angola, Liberia, DR Congo, Rwanda and Kenya will all have presidential elections this year, more than a dozen more countries will hold parliamentary, municipal or local polls