Stay informed with FP’s news and analysis as the United States votes.
U.S. presidential elections matter to African nations because they serve as a barometer for democracy. Extreme polarization, disinformation, and hatred have marred Nigerian ballots—often resulting in violent protests and the refusal to accept election results. Other familiar practices, such as vote buying, are now being observed in the U.S. campaign. Elon Musk’s $1 million-a-day giveaway to voters via his political action committee feels eerily familiar in Nigeria, where politicians’ use of money to influence voters is commonplace.
The dissatisfaction with democracy is also familiar. About 94 percent of Nigerians view politics as corrupt, according to polling firm Afrobarometer. Asked to describe the state of politics last year, about 79 percent of Americans used words like “corrupt” and “divisive” in a Pew Research Center survey.
African politicians “can point to the American political landscape, rife with polarization and chaos, to justify their own authoritarian tendencies and abuse of democracy,” wrote development specialist Chinedu George Nnawetanma.
But the United States can also learn about accepting ballot results from recent elections in Senegal, South Africa, and, most recently, Botswana. Botswana oversaw a smooth transfer of power on Monday after a crushing election defeat for the Botswana Democratic Party, which had enjoyed 58 years in power.
Former President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded defeat even before full results were announced. Masisi has said he will not run for political office again, despite having served only one out of two possible five-year terms.
“Botswana today sends a message to the whole world and says democracy is alive here, democracy is in action,” Botswana’s newly elected leader, Duma Boko, declared after taking office.
This post is part of FP’s live coverage with global updates and analysis throughout the U.S. election. Follow along here.