Sampson Kwarkye | ISS Africa

Ahead of the December 2024 elections, heightened mistrust in state institutions and unresolved tensions threaten to disrupt the polls.

Political divisions over limiting presidential power and terms in office have brought the process to a standstill.

Despite pre-election rhetoric, long-standing principles and regional realities will likely guide international relations.

A better understanding of how violent extremism expands could help avoid costly mistakes.

Following the same counter-terrorism strategy in other parts of West Africa could see insecurity worsening in littoral states.

After a disputed election, bitter relations between political parties and a hung Parliament will test governance processes.

The continued cross-border smuggling raises questions about the strategy’s effectiveness and the real reasons behind it.

With several task forces and initiatives already operating, securing commitment for one plan was never going to be easy.

Recurring suspicions over the Electoral Commission’s independence threaten political stability in the long run.

The region’s coastal states need to disrupt the funding and logistics networks used by violent extremists.

Although little is known about the initiative, it has significant potential for individual states and the region.

Elections are the battleground for resource control, which raises the stakes and likelihood of clashes.