What to expect in Global South politics in 2024

Nigeria, Gabon, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, and Liberia, among others, got new leaders after elections in 2023 and there are many more expected to come in the new year, 2024.

Many countries are going to the polls to elect new leaders, and it is expected to be an eventful year in that regard.

Algeria

Algerians will elect a new president in 2024. Current President Abdelmadjid Tebboune took over from Abdelaziz Bouteflika on December 19, 2019. Meanwhile, President Tebboune hasn’t said if he will contest for the presidency in the polls which will happen in December 2024. Algeria currently has a population of about 46 million people.

Mauritania

Mauritanian elections are expected to be held in June 2024. The polls are expected to see some 1.8 million voters with twenty-five parties vying. Mauritania’s President is Mohamed Ould Ghazouani who took over as president in 2019. The country has a population of 4.9 million people and the elections are expected to happen on June 22, 2024.

India

India will see its populist leader of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seek re-election for a third term in power. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking the votes of millions of citizens in an election that will be held between April and May 2024. It will also see the election of some over 500 members of the Lok Sabha (House of the People).

Indonesia

Out of a population of about 279 million people, voters will choose a leader for the country as well as the Regional Representative Council and House of Representatives. The Indonesian elections are scheduled for February 2024. Anies Baswedan and Muhaimin Iskandar, Ganjar Pranowo and Mahfud MD, Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka have been declared eligible as presidential and vice-presidential candidate pairs for the polls.

Bangladesh

The Asian country is one of the countries to have an early election in 2024. Out of some 170 million people, voters are expected to go to the polls on January 7. Incumbent Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina who leads the Awami party is vying to lead the country for the fourth consecutive term. Her main opponent is former prime minister Khaled Zia.

Mexico

Mexicans will be voting for a president, senate, and Chamber of Deputies members in June 2024. The new president will serve for 6 years. Former Mexico City Mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez senator from the opposition alliance Frente Amplio are vying for the presidency. The incumbent president is Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Iran

Legislative elections are scheduled to take place in Iran in March 2024. Members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Assembly of Experts will be elected. The election is scheduled for March 2024.

South Africa

South African citizens will vote in a general election in 2024 to elect a new National Assembly and a provincial legislature. This comes after the President of the Republic, Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Electoral Amendment Bill into law on April 17, 2023. A total of 568,374 voters are registered to vote in the elections expected to come off between May and August.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan elections are expected to come off in December 2024. This will be to elect members of the Legislative Chamber of the country.

Madagascar

After a presidential election held in November to elect a president for Madagascar, the country is expected to go to the polls again in May 2024. Andry Rajoelina was declared president on November 16, 2023, after winning with 58.95% of the votes.

Mozambique

Mozambique will hold a general election in October 2024 to elect a president and Assembly of the Republic. The president will be elected using the 2-round system. The incumbent president Filipe Nyusi will face competition from other candidates.

Ghana

Ghanaians will go to the polls in December 2024 to elect a president for the next four years. With the incumbent president, Nana Akufo-Addo retiring from politics, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will represent the ruling New Patriotic Party and face stiff opposition from John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress.

Venezuela

Citizens of Venezuela are expected to vote in presidential elections scheduled to come off in December 2024. The elections will see the appointment of a president for the next six years beginning in January 2025. Incumbent president Nicolas Maduro will face opposition from other party candidates.

Mali

Elections in Mali were expected to come off in February 2024 after a previously scheduled one in 2023. But it has been postponed indefinitely for ‘technical’ reasons.

Chad

Chad elections will come off in October 2024 following a constitutional referendum held in December 2023. The referendum is expected to pave way for the President Mahamat Deby to run for president in the next elections.

Senegal

Senegal will vote for a president in February 2024. Incumbent President, Macky Sall will not be contesting again, in his stead, he has put Prime Minister Amadou Ba as the candidate for the ruling party.

Other global south countries to hold elections include Cambodia which will hold Senate elections in February 2024, Rwanda which will hold a presidency and Chamber of Deputies polls in July 2024, Tunisia which will hold a presidential election in 2024, Belgium which will hold a Chamber of Representatives elections in June, Jordan will hold a House of Reps elections in November, South Sudan in December to elect a president and national legislature, Togo will elect a National Assembly in early 2024, Mauritania which will elect a president in June, Botswana which will elect a National Assembly in October, Namibia which will elect a president and National Assembly, Guinea Bissau will elect a president, and Mauritius and Comoros.