Balance of Power: Chaos, Change and Two Crucial Votes in Africa
Balance of Power: Chaos, Change and Two Crucial Votes in Africa
(Bloomberg) -- Two powerful African countries hold votes today -- one with a sense of foreboding, the other with a sense of hope.
Kenyans go to the polls as ethnic tensions hang in the air and threaten the same explosion of violence that has marred most of the country’s elections since the early 1990s. In South Africa, investors have cheered parliament’s decision to give lawmakers a secret ballot in a no-confidence motion against President Jacob Zuma today, sparking optimism that his scandal-ridden administration may soon end.
A peaceful election is vital for Kenya, East Africa’s economic powerhouse and a regional hub for companies including Google and Coca-Cola. While the campaign has been fiercely competitive, there’s little to choose from between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his main rival, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Instead, voting is defined mainly by ethnic loyalty. Last week’s murder of an election official evoked memories of the violence that left at least 1,100 people dead after a disputed vote in 2007.
In South Africa, hopes of change may well be dashed -- Zuma has survived many attempts to oust him. But for all the country’s problems, bloodshed is unlikely. Kenyans will just be happy if things go peacefully.
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To contact the editor responsible for this story: Ben Sills at bsills@bloomberg.net.