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Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa have organised their 4th elections since their democratic transition in the early 1990s. Against former liberation movements that still dominate the political and socio-economic sphere, traditional opposition parties find it difficult to gain space and influence. In response to widening discontent with their ruling parties, new political movements have emerged in Southern Africa. But how much support are they able to achieve?

In 2005, Uganda established its multi-party system and had its first competitive elections in 2006. For the forthcoming elections scheduled for the beginning of 2011, observers fear a similar eruption of violence like in Kenya’s elections in 2007/2008. What lessons can be learnt from the Kenyan example for the region?

In the DR Congo, the first pluralist presidential and parliamentary elections were organised in 2006, but due to a fragmented party system and an opportunistic political culture, opposition parties are met with substantial difficulties to gain support for their political alternatives. Will local government elections in the DR Congo provide political opportunities for opposition parties?