And the election winner is … the candidate who can afford Africa’s soaring nomination fees
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Djibouti and Benin held presidential elections recently, highlighting a growing trend in Africa: soaring nomination fees that limit who can run for office. In Djibouti, the fee was approximately £20,000, while Benin's reached about £328,000. Critics argue these high costs, along with other campaign expenses, serve as a barrier to entry, effectively excluding opposition candidates and reinforcing the power of incumbents like Djibouti's President Guelleh, who has been in power since 1999. Similar concerns are rising in Zimbabwe, where nomination fees increased dramatically, preventing some opposition leaders from participating in the 2023 polls. This trend raises questions about the fairness and inclusivity of elections across the continent.
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AI-ExtractedFinancial capacity is not a measure of political competence, integrity, public support or visionary leadership.
Zimbabwe's nomination fee in the last elections rose to £15,000, a 1,900% increase.
In Djibouti, the nomination fee is refundable only to candidates who obtain at least 10% of votes cast.
Benin has pegged its nomination fee at about £328,000.
Djibouti's nomination fee was set at about the equivalent of £20,000.
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