Predictable outcomes, lack of suspense, first-round victories for incumbents. The presidential elections held across Africa in 2025 revealed a disturbing trend: opposition candidates were systematically sidelined even before campaigning began. The most recent cases unfolded in Djibouti on April 10 and Benin on April 12, where the ruling parties secured overwhelming victories—Ismaïl Omar Guelleh with 97.8% in Djibouti and Romuald Wadagni with 94% in Benin. While the numbers tell one story, the process behind them tells another.

In Djibouti, opposition leader Alexis Mohamed abandoned his candidacy, citing not only security concerns but, crucially, the prohibitive cost of nomination fees. These financial barriers proved insurmountable for many aspiring candidates, turning the electoral process into what observers describe as “a mere formality”.

Money as the deciding factor

The exorbitant costs of running for office have become a defining feature of African elections, particularly in francophone West Africa. Candidates often face fees that exceed local economic realities, effectively pricing out genuine competition. While incumbent parties navigate these financial hurdles with institutional support, independent and opposition hopefuls struggle to meet the same demands, if they can even afford to declare their candidacy at all.

The phenomenon isn’t isolated to Djibouti. In Benin, the escalating costs of campaigning have similarly stifled opposition voices, leaving voters with limited choices. This pattern raises critical questions about the integrity of electoral processes and the extent to which financial power, rather than democratic principles, dictates political outcomes.

As African nations prepare for future elections, the issue of equitable access to the ballot box remains unresolved. Without reforms to these prohibitive systems, the cycle of one-sided victories and restricted political pluralism is unlikely to break.