Welcome!
Before examining West Africa’s election policies and politics, it is crucial to understand the socioeconomic context of each country. This first map presents the eight member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). Founded in 1994, the WAEMU aims to promote economic and diplomatic integration among its member states. As a monetary union, all countries are subjugated to the same currency, monetary policies, and the free circulation of people, goods, services, and capital.
Explore!
Throughout the last decade, West Africa has been the stage of shifting power dynamics. The economic and diplomatic integration among these countries promotes regional election policy trends, some positive, some controversial, and others negative. Through a policy output, outcome, and impact analysis, Behind the Ballot divides the main policies into successes, controversies, and failures, analyzing the implementation of different policy goals throughout the region. Furthermore, it introduces a 4th map exploring the recent coups d’etat and their influence on the region.
The Successes: When Policy Is Done Right
This map explores policies that increase political participation of minority groups, voter participation, and election transparency.
The Controversies: when Policy Polarizes
This map addresses policies that generated polar reactions, creating discourse surrounding their effectiveness in improving election processes.
The Failures: When Policy Becomes Politics
This map presents policies that reduce political participation, stimulate voter suppression for political gain, and are classified as anti-democratic.
The Coups: when the Policy Is No Policy
This map discusses the coups d’etat in Mali (2020, 2021), Burkina Faso (January & September 2022), and Niger (2023) and the subsequent establishment of the Alliance of Sahel States.