2006 in Africa

Last updated
Years in Africa: 2003   2004   2005   2006   2007   2008   2009
Centuries: 20th century  ·  21st century  ·  22nd century
Decades: 1970s   1980s   1990s   2000s   2010s   2020s   2030s
Years: 2003   2004   2005   2006   2007   2008   2009

International organizations

African Union (AU)

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC)

West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA)

Other organizations

Elections

In the Beninese presidential election, 2006, held on March 5, the outgoing president Mathieu Kérékou was barred from entering due to the age limit. However, he still actively criticised the organization of the election after the first round, and along with several other political parties (such as the opposition Benin Rebirth Party), openly suggested electoral fraud. International observers, some from ECOWAS, concluded that the poll had taken place under satisfactory conditions and transparency. According to results validated by the constitutional court, Yayi Boni took the lead in the first round with 35.60% of the vote, in front of Adrien Houngbédji with 24.23%. In the second round, Boni won the presidency with a majority of 74.29% against Houndbédji.
In the Burkinabe municipal election, 2006, held on April 23, most of the vote went to incumbent president Blaise Compaoré's Congress for Democracy and Progress.
In the Cape Verdean legislative election, 2006, held on January 22, the African Party of Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) triumphed, garnering 50.52% of the vote (40 seats), beating the main opposition party, the Movement for Democracy (MpD) with 28 seats, and the Democratic and Independent Cape Verdean Union (UCID) with 2 seats.
In the Cape Verdean presidential election, 2006, held on February 12, Pedro Pires, the incumbent, was challenged by former prime minister Carlos Veiga. Pires, with 50.98% of the vote, narrowly beat Veiga, with 49.02%, thus retaining his presidency, in a repeat of the 2001 election.
In the Chadian presidential election, 2006, held on May 3 in the midst of the Second Chadian Civil War, incumbent president Idriss Déby won 64.67% of the vote, thus retaining his presidency. Most opposition political parties refused to participate in what they termed a "masquerade". Voter turnout was extremely low, at 53.1%.
In the Comorian presidential election, 2006, held in two rounds on April 16 and May 14, Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi defeated all opponents with a 58.02% majority of the national vote, succeeding Azali Assoumani in the first peaceful transfer of power in modern Comorian history.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo general election, 2006, held on July 30 and October 29 in two rounds, the incumbent Joseph Kabila was elected president. The first round saw 33 candidates running for president and 9,000 candidates running for the 500 seats in the National Assembly. Kabila had garnered 44.81% of the vote, while his main opponent, Jean-Pierre Bemba, only won 20.03%. Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy won 110 seats in the Assembly, compared to the 64 seats won by Bemba's Movement for the Liberation of Congo. The second round, a presidential run-off, saw the deployment of the world's largest United Nations peacekeeping mission, UNMOC. On November 15, the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) announced that Kabila had won the vote with 58.05%, while Bemba had received only 41.95% support, and declared Kabila president. Voter turnout was 65.36% for the second round. Despite Bemba's rejection of the outcome, the Supreme Court upheld the election result, stating that Kabila was the winner by "absolute majority". Throughout the year, rioting and violence was rampant in many parts of the country. This was the first multi-party election since 1960.
In the Gabonese legislative election, 2006, held on December 17, confirmed results from the constitutional court stated that the 7 government coalition parties in support of the incumbent president, Omar Bongo had garnered a majority. Out of the total 120 seats, coalition parties had won a total of 99 seats, compared to the 17 won by the 6 parties of the opposition. The remaining 4 seats were won by independents. An overwhelming 82 seats were won by Bongo's Gabonese Democratic Party alone. No major incidents related to the election were reported.
In the Malagasy presidential election, 2006, held on December 3, incumbent president Marc Ravalomanana was voted in for a second term in office with 54.80%, prevailing over 13 other candidates. Voter turnout was estimated at 61.45%. Confusion over preliminary results led opposition candidates to question the validity of the elections, and official complaints were filed to the constitutional court. On December 23, the court ruled that Ravalomanana had indeed won the election. Several weeks before, a coup attempt related to the election occurred. Furthermore, some candidates were barred from participating for various reasons.
In the Mauritanian constitutional referendum, 2006, held on June 26, 96.97% voted to adopt a new constitution. Voter turnout was 76.51%.
In the Mauritanian parliamentary and municipal elections, 2006, held on November 19 and December 3, the coalition of former opposition parties won 39 seats, while moderate Islamist independents won 41 seats. The former ruling party, the Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal, won the remaining 7 seats. The elections were considered to be free and transparent by all observers and political parties.
In the Seychellois presidential election, 2006, held from July 28 through July 30, the incumbent president James Michel of the Seychelles People's Progressive Front was re-elected with 53.73% of the vote. His main opponent, Wavel Ramkalawan of the Seychelles National Party, won 45.71% of the vote. Voter turnout was 88.7%.
In the Ugandan general election, 2006, held on February 23, the incumbent president Yoweri Museveni garnered 59.2% of the vote, compared to Kizza Besigye's 37.3%. Besigye's Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party rejected the results, alleging electoral fraud. Judges of the Supreme Court of Uganda narrowly voted to uphold the election result, despite many mentions of irregularities. The election was also the first multi-party poll since 1986. However, a multitude of charges were brought against Besigye in the months leading up to the election, sparking claims of fabrication and widespread protests by Besigye supporters.
In the Zambian general election, 2006, held on September 28, Levy Mwanawasa won the single-round presidential election with 43.0%, beating main opponents Michael Sata and Hakainde Hichilema, with a voter turnout of 70.77%. In the simultaneously conducted parliamentary election, out of the 150 elected seats in the National Assembly, Mwanawasa's Movement for Multiparty Democracy secured 72 seats, while Sata's Patriotic Front won 46 seats, and the United Democratic Alliance returned with 27 seats.

Conflict and civil war

Darfur conflict

President of Sudan Omar al-Bashir refuses the deployment of 20,000 Blue Helmets in a United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1706 adopted on September 1.

Contents

Somalia War (2006–2009)

Environment

Health

AIDS

Avian flu

Chikungunya

Cholera

Malaria

Meningitis

Sickle-cell disease

Education

Children's rights

Demography

Sports

Athletics

Basketball

Boxing

Cycling

Football (soccer)

Handball

Judo

Rugby Union

Wrestling

Culture

Art

Film

Music

Festivals

Literature

Science

Economy

See also

Notes

This text is being translated from the original French-language article.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economic Community of West African States</span> Intergovernmental economic union

The Economic Community of West African States is a regional political and economic union of fifteen countries located in West Africa. Collectively, these countries comprise an area of 5,114,162 km2 (1,974,589 sq mi), and in 2019 had an estimated population of over 387 million.

The History of Benin since the 16th century, for the geographical area included in 1960 in what was then called the Republic of Dahomey before becoming the People's Republic of Benin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Burkina Faso</span> Aspect of history

The history of Burkina Faso includes the history of various kingdoms within the country, such as the Mossi kingdoms, as well as the later French colonisation of the territory and its independence as the Republic of Upper Volta in 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alassane Ouattara</span> President of Ivory Coast (2010–present)

Alassane Dramane Ouattara is an Ivorian politician who has been President of Ivory Coast since 2010. An economist by profession, Ouattara worked for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Central Bank of West African States, and he was the Prime Minister of Côte d'Ivoire from November 1990 to December 1993, appointed to that post by President Félix Houphouët-Boigny. Ouattara became the President of the Rally of the Republicans (RDR), an Ivorian political party, in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Burkina Faso</span> Political elections for public offices in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso elects on the national level a head of state – the president – and a legislature. The president is elected for a five-year term by the people. The National Assembly has 127 members, elected for a five-year term by proportional representation. Burkina Faso has held democratic elections since 1965. The history of elections has been slightly inconsistent, with the government dynamically changing at the hands of various coups, constitutional changes, and boycotts from various political parties. In 2015, the country experienced its first peaceful and fair election ever. Corruption plagued Burkina Faso's presidential elections for 50 years, but following a coup overthrowing Blaise Compaoré, the nation has seen more democratic and less corrupt electoral processes. Terrorism has played a substantial role in Burkina Faso's elections, with candidates running on the promise to keep the nation safe from the rise of Islamic jihadism they experienced in the 2010s. Historically, a few different parties have held power in Burkina. The Organization for Popular Democracy – Labour Movement was former president Compaoré's party affiliation, and thus they held power from 1987 to 2014. His party took power through a coup, and in 2014 also lost their control when the Regiment of Presidential Security overthrew the government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo</span>

Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo, Burkinabè statesman. He was the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso from 1996 to 2000 and Chairman of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election</span>

General elections were held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on July 30, 2006. They were the first multiparty elections in the country in 41 years, and the first since the overthrow of longtime leader Mobutu Sese Seko nine years earlier. Voters went to the polls to elect both a new President of the Republic and a new National Assembly, the lower-house of the Parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Malian parliamentary election</span>

Parliamentary elections were held in Mali on 1 July 2007, with a second round on 22 July. In the first round, there were about 1,400 candidates for 147 seats in the National Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Burkina Faso</span> Overview of and topical guide to Burkina Faso

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Burkina Faso:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Nigerien parliamentary election</span> Parliamentary election held in Niger

Parliamentary elections were held in Niger on 20 October 2009, after President Mamadou Tandja dissolved the National Assembly in May 2009 and a constitution referendum was held in August 2009. The elections were boycotted by most opposition parties, and saw Tandja's National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD) win a landslide victory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Africa Regional Rail Integration</span> Proposal to link railway networks in West Africa

The West Africa Regional Rail Integration is a proposal to connect up isolated railway networks in West Africa.

The West African Power Pool (WAPP) is a cooperation of the national electricity companies in Western Africa under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The members of WAPP are working for establishing a reliable power grid for the region and a common market for electricity. It was founded in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Burkinabé parliamentary election</span>

Parliamentary elections were held in Burkina Faso on 2 December 2012. They were the first elections held since the National Assembly dissolved the National Electoral Commission in 2011, following fraud allegations concerning the 2010 presidential elections. Municipal elections for over 18,000 councillors were held simultaneously. The elections were held amidst a period of political uncertainty, following protests against President Blaise Compaore's regime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Burkinabè general election</span>

General elections were held in Burkina Faso on 29 November 2015. The elections were the first national elections in the country since the 2014 Burkinabé uprising and the departure of President Blaise Compaoré, who had ruled Burkina Faso for 27 years. The party of former President Compaoré, the Congress for Democracy and Progress, was banned from presenting a presidential candidate in the presidential elections but was still able to participate in the parliamentary election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Burkina Faso uprising</span> Uprising that overthrew President Blaise Compaoré

The 2014 Burkina Faso uprising was a series of demonstrations and riots in Burkina Faso in October 2014 that quickly spread to multiple cities. They began in response to attempts at changing the constitution to allow President Blaise Compaoré to run again and extend his 27 years in office. Pressure for political change came from civil society and in particular from the country's youth. Following a tumultuous day on 30 October, which included the involvement of former Defence Minister Kouamé Lougué and the burning of the National Assembly and other government buildings as well as the ruling Congress for Democracy and Progress party's headquarters, Compaoré dissolved the government and declared a state of emergency before eventually fleeing to Côte d'Ivoire with the support of President Alassane Ouattara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election</span>

General elections were held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 30 December 2018, to determine a successor to President Joseph Kabila, as well as for the 500 seats of the National Assembly and the 715 elected seats of the 26 provincial assemblies. Félix Tshisekedi (UDPS) won with 38.6% of the vote, defeating another opposition candidate, Martin Fayulu, and Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, backed by the ruling party PPRD. Fayulu alleged that the vote was rigged against him in a deal made by Tshisekedi and outgoing President Kabila, challenging the result in the DRC's Constitutional Court. Different election observers, including those from the country's Roman Catholic Church, also cast doubt on the official result. Nonetheless on 20 January the Court rejected his appeal and declared Tshisekedi as the winner. Parties supporting President Kabila won the majority of seats in the National Assembly. Félix Tshisekedi was sworn in as the 5th President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 24 January 2019, making it the first peaceful transition of power in the country since it became independent from Belgium in 1960.

This period in the history of Ivory Coast was affected by the end of the 33-year reign of Félix Houphouët-Boigny in 1993, as well as demographic change which had seen the Muslim population rise from 6% in 1922 to 38.6% in 1998, including a majority in the north of the country.

2020s in electoral politics refers to events and outcomes from elections all around the world, during the decade of the 2020s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Malian presidential election</span>

Presidential elections are scheduled to be held in Mali on 4 February 2024. Previously they were scheduled to be held on 27 February 2022.