Gorée Institute
The Gorée Institute is the ACE Regional Centre for West Africa.
Gorée Institute
Scope of countries
For specific information on individual countries, please visit the country pages below
· Benin
· Gambia
· Ghana
· Guinea
· Liberia
· Mali
· Niger
· Nigeria
· Senegal
· Togo
Welcome to the Regional Centre page for the region of Western Africa. This page is facilitated by Goree Institute, an associated member of the ACE network. Here you will find updated information about the region, such as electoral news, case studies and election-related links. To access this material, use the menus to the right. If you need information about other regions, select another Regional Centre from the drop-down menu on the left side.
Regional events
SENEGAL | BRIDGE Training For West African Civil Society Organisations
March 23-27, 2009
Gorée Institute will organise a BRIDGE training for West African CSOs working in electoral processes from March 23rd 2009 to March 27th 2009. This five day training is organised with the support of the United Nations Democracy Fund and International IDEA. Participants are from various West African countries: Senegal, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, The Gambia. The training will be in English. Read More.
Trends and key issues in West Africa
- Guinea - Project of law establishing a new Idependent Electoral commission adopted by all stakeholders
On october 17th 2007, all stakeholders adopted the project of law establishing a new IEC, in order to have transparent and fair elections.
- Cautions in Senegalese elections
During the 2007 elections in Senegal, it was mandatory for candidates to pay a caution of 25 000 000 FCFA (38,112 euros) in order to run for presidential elections. The caution for parliamentary elections was 15 000 000 FCFA (22,867) to be paid by the political parties. These cautions were reimbursed upon having 5 per cent of the total votes.
- Participation rates in elections are decreasing
(i.e. Benin, Mali, Burkina, Senegal) says François Soudan.
- Many elections are characterized by a massive boycott
- Should voting be compulsory or not?
President Abdoulaye Wade of Sénégal states :"making voting compulsory is not an option we want to take, but the citizens must know that every citizen must vote."
- Electoral reform is being initiated in Nigeria.
A panel has been appointed by the president to conduct electoral reform.
Regional Election Spotlight
Forthcoming elections
SENEGAL | Local Government Elections
March 22nd, 2009
Senegal heads to the polls on March 22 for its Local Government Elections. There are 4.8 million registered voters and close to 550 constituencies. Read More
Recent elections
TOGO | Legislative
October 14, 2007
The legislative elections in Togo saw the victory of the ruling party. Overall, stakeholders have agreed that the vote was well organised. Here
SIERRA LEONE |General elections
September 8, 2007
SECOND ROUND RUN OFFs in Presidential
It's official !!Ernest Bai Koroma has won the presidential election and led the All People's Congress to power in Sierra Leone.Here
The opposition wins the August 11 parliamentary elections.The final results of the parliamentary elections have been published by the NEC. SLPP wins 43 seats, APC wins 59 seats, PMDC wins 10 seats. The other political parties win no seats. Find out more about the parliamentary elections. Here
Mali | legislative 2nd round
July 22, 2007
Information about the Mali election will be found.Here
