In recent years, West Africa has drawn the eyes of the world due to its culture, emerging economics, and changing demographics. However, one of the most intricate aspects of the region is behind its presidential palaces, national assemblies, and most importantly: ballots. This project analyzes the power transitions and election policy of eight West African states: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, Guine-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo, drawing connections among those and proposing questions surrounding power, democracy and freedom.
Most West African countries gained their independence during the second half of the 20th Century. These juvenile republics had the challenge of becoming nations overnight. However, sedimenting institutions takes time, and the scarcity of resources, a consequence of neocolonialism, created an environment susceptible to antidemocratic maneuvers by policymakers, politicians, and even military leaders. The following timelines explore in depth the main events in the West African electoral policy, starting in 2012, including elections, policies, uprisings, coups d’etat, and conflicts.
Behind The Ballot aims to dissect the main events surrounding election policy and power transitions including elections, policies, uprisings, coups d’etat, and conflicts in the last 12 years in the eight member countries of the West African Economic & Monetary Union (WAEMU): Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte D’Ivoire, Guine-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo.