Elections all over Africa are often celebrated as the beginning of democracy, but for its citizens, they bring fear, uncertainty, and disruption. Disputed results, political manipulation, and electoral violence can make communities unsafe, while instability harms local economies and slows or even stops development. From disordered businesses to long-term social and human costs, the consequences of flawed elections extend beyond election day.

 

According to research by the U.S. Institute of Peace, roughly 19-25% of elections in sub-Saharan Africa are accompanied by some sort of electoral violence. This violence can be grouped into two categories: “low-scale” and ”high-scale.” Low-scale includes smaller, localized incidents, such as intimidation, harassment, or minor clashes, while high-scale violence consists of widespread, or severe events, like riots, mass protests, ethnic conflict, or even civil war. As such, after Kenya’s disputed election of 2007, the country experienced severe ethnic violence that left more than 1,000 people dead and displaced hundreds of thousands. In other countries, elections have triggered mass protests or military coups, destabilizing entire nations. Citizens fear for their safety, whether from violence, displacement, or general chaos. Even after stability returns, lingering fear undermines trust in government.

 

In many cases elections are neither free nor fair. Ruling parties sometimes manipulate electoral rules, suppress the opposition, some use state institutions, courts, and media to secure victory. Electoral commissions may block opposition candidates or use legal and procedural tools to predetermine outcomes before votes are even cast. This can lead to apathy, cynicism, or even radicalization, weakening social cohesion and potentially paving the way for authoritarian rule.

 

When electoral institutions, like the judiciary, electoral commissions, media, and security forces are weak or tied to ruling elites, there is little recourse for the opposition or citizens. That means that even if election results are suspicious, there may be no way to challenge them fairly. Leaving to frustration, protests, and sometimes violent repression. Citizens feel deprived of their voice and unable to influence the government controlling their lives. This weakens democracy, and deepens mistrust and division deepens mistrust and division.

 

Electoral violence and instability can also also severely disrupt commerce, trade routes and supply chains. According to a UN study on the 2008 post-election violence in Kenya, export-oriented firms suffered large production losses, and key infrastructure, such as roads and railways, was damaged. These disruptions lead to the immobilization of goods, causing exports to stall, and businesses to close. Political instability discourages foreign investment, as uncertainty slows economic growth. This impacts the local citizens because they now have fewer jobs, reduced income, and rising poverty. Import-dependent goods could start becoming more scarce or expensive. 

 

Governments facing instability often divert resources from development and towards security. In regions where electoral violence is common, children and households may suffer long term effects. The UN study on Kenya also suggests that these children have reduced access to nutrition and proper healthcare due to the greed of politicians. The uncertainty in these regions also leads to “brain-drain”: professional and skilled workers emigrating, refusing to stay in unstable environments. This weakens public institutions, like healthcare, education, and governance even further, which has reduced quality of life for decades.

 

When elections are manipulated or result in violence, some groups could feel targeted, fueling ethnic tensions, alienation and division. Many post-election crises in Africa have had strong ethnic dimensions. This unequal treatment reinforces patterns of exclusion and unequal access to resources, jobs and public services.

 

In many African countries, elections can bring not hope but fear, instability, and deep uncertainty. From low-scale intimidation to large-scale violence, citizens often face real danger during these periods. Weak institutions, manipulated systems and disputed results damage trust in the system and diminish hope for democracy, while unrest disrupts businesses and harms the economy. Together, these issues leave ordinary everyday people feeling unsafe, unheard, and economically vulnerable, illustrating how flawed elections have consequences that reach far beyond election day.