Here is a rundown of elections that made a difference in 2025:

Sri Lanka

One of the most consequential elections was Sri Lanka ’s parliamentary transition in early 2025, which followed the 2024 presidential election won by Anura Kumara Dissanayake after the country’s worst economic crisis since independence. Voters decisively rejected the long-dominant Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe political establishments, widely blamed for the 2022 debt default, instead backing parties and candidates associated with fiscal discipline, anti-corruption reforms, and continued engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recovery programme.

Crucially, the mass youth-led protest movement known as the “Aragalaya,” which had forced former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee in 2022, evolved into sustained electoral pressure in 2025.

Cameroon

In the October 12, 2025, presidential election, Cameroon’ s long-serving President Paul Biya, aged 92, was declared the winner with approximately 53.7% of the vote, extending his rule that began in 1982 into an unprecedented eighth term. The result sparked widespread protests in major cities such as Douala and Yaoundé, with opposition supporters rejecting the official outcome and accusing the government of electoral fraud and repression. The election and its aftermath underscored deep social tensions between entrenched political authority and a growing demand for democratic accountability among citizens and civil society groups.

Tanzania

Tanzania’s 29 October 2025 general election faced criticism over the exclusion of major opposition candidates and claims of suppressed dissent, fuelling public dissatisfaction with the electoral process and governance. Following the government’s declared victory, protests erupted in major cities, driven largely by young people contesting the outcome and broader political restrictions. Opposition groups and civil society alleged that thousands were killed during the unrest, with some estimates as high as 10,000. These claims have not been independently verified and were dismissed by the government as exaggerated. Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba’s administration described the figures as misinformation and announced investigations into the protests and any confirmed deaths. A presidential commission was subsequently established, though no official death toll has been released.

Chile

In the December 2025 presidential election in Chile , José Antonio Kast of the conservative Christian Social Front was elected president, defeating left-of-centre candidate Gabriel Boric and signalling a sharp political shift after years of social unrest and economic uncertainty. Kast’s victory reflected widespread voter concern over crime, public security, and economic challenges, with his campaign promising tougher law-and-order policies and market-oriented fiscal reforms. The result marked a substantive rightward turn in Chilean politics, underscoring a broader social realignment in Latin America as citizens adjusted priorities away from progressive agendas toward stability, security, and economic pragmatism in the aftermath of mass protests and constitutional debates.

Bolivia

In the 2025 Bolivian presidential runoff, Rodrigo Paz —a centrist and former mayor of La Paz— defeated his main rival to secure the presidency with a clear lead in the early official count, ending nearly two decades of dominance by the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party. Paz’s campaign focused on economic stability, reducing political polarisation, combating corruption, and restoring investor confidence after years of tension between MAS supporters and opposition groups, appealing to voters across the political spectrum. The election marked a significant social and political shift in Bolivia, reflecting widespread public desire for consensus leadership and pragmatic governance following periods of protests, contested elections, and economic uncertainty under previous administrations.

Protesters carried banners asking, “Where are the hospitals?” and condemned what they called misplaced priorities.

According to Reuters , more than 260 security personnel were injured in clashes, while 23 civilians were wounded and over 400 people arrested nationwide. The Interior Ministry confirmed that two protesters were killed in Lqliaa after security forces opened fire when a gendarmerie post was attacked.

International agencies report that Morocco continues to face chronic shortages in healthcare, with just 4.4 doctors per 10,000 people, which is far below the World Health Organisation’s standard.

Protesters also point to repeated tragedies, including maternal deaths in understaffed hospitals, as evidence of state neglect.

Authorities defended the stadium projects, saying they would boost Morocco’s global profile and tourism sector. Government officials also promised to convene parliament to discuss health sector reforms in response to the protests.

Morocco has long been considered a relatively stable country in North Africa, with strong ties to Europe and the United States . But the latest protests raise concerns that deepening social discontent could undermine the country’s carefully cultivated image as a hub of modernity and reform.

For now, the question hangs in the air: are Morocco’s grand stadiums monuments to progress, or symbols of a government papering over cracks in its social fabric?

Nigeria’s economic reforms, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of exchange rates, were intended to stabilise public finances and attract investment. Instead, they have fueled hardship. Inflation hit 34.2% in 2024, the highest in 28 years, while food inflation surged to 40.7% ( National Bureau of Statistics, 2024 ). With one in two Nigerians now living in multidimensional poverty, the country’s vast oil wealth has yet to translate into broad-based development.

Persistent insecurity

Armed groups remain a major destabilising force. Boko Haram, its offshoot ISWAP, and Ansaru continue to wage violence in northern Nigeria. The August 2025 arrest of Ansaru leaders Mahmud Muhammad Usman and Mahmud al-Nigeri was hailed as a turning point, but experts caution that extremist networks are resilient and prone to retaliatory attacks. Kidnapping-for-ransom and farmer-herder clashes further compound insecurity, undermining state authority in vast swathes of the country.

Democratic fragility

Since its return to civilian rule in 1999, Nigeria has struggled with electoral credibility. Nearly every presidential election has ended in legal disputes. Analysts warn that unless the 2027 general elections improve on the contested 2023 polls, Nigeria risks eroding public trust in democracy. Political scientists say this could embolden other West African regimes, already plagued by coups and authoritarian backsliding, to manipulate their own electoral processes.

Fragile social systems

Nigeria’s health and education systems expose the cost of weak governance. The country has one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates, with 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births ( WHO, 2023 ). In education, millions of out-of-school children, estimated at 20 million by UNICEF, threaten the future of a youthful population.

Energy and infrastructure gap

Despite its oil reserves, Nigeria’s power sector is one of the least reliable in Africa. Over 85 million people, that is 43% of the population, lack access to grid electricity ( African Development Bank, 2024 ). Power generation averages 4,500 MW for a nation of 228 million, constraining industrialisation and job creation.

A nation at crossroads

Nigeria’s strategic weight is undeniable since it is Africa’s largest economy, the continent’s biggest democracy, and a key security partner to Western powers. Yet its internal crises, rising poverty, governance deficits, and insecurity raise questions about its long-term stability. With over 70% of Nigerians under 30, the country faces a stark choice: either to harness its demographic dividend for growth or allow frustration to fuel instability and unrest.

As Nigeria turns 65, it teeters between resilience and fragility. Whether it tips one way or the other will depend on the government’s ability to turn ambitious reforms into real improvements for ordinary citizens.

According to HRMI’s Rights Tracker platform, Nigeria scored just 3.2 out of 10 in the Safety from the State category, placing it among the world’s worst performers. The country was specifically flagged for arbitrary arrests, torture, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings.

“This is the first time we have produced civil and political rights data for Nigeria, and it is already clear that the government in Abuja has a long way to go in protecting the basic rights of its citizens,” said Nkosi Sibanda, HRMI’s East and Southern Africa Lead, in a statement.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Nigeria reported a steady rise in human rights complaints. In May 2025 alone, the NHRC recorded 275,256 cases, a 5% increase from April.

“Too many Nigerians feel unprotected, unseen, and what’s most worrisome is the normalisation of this distress.”, Executive Secretary of NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, noted a disturbing trend

HRMI also rated Nigeria 4.5 out of 10 in the "Empowerment" category, which includes freedoms of expression, assembly, association, and democratic participation. Only freedom of religion and belief escaped a “bad” rating.

The report cited violent crackdowns on peaceful protests such as #EndSARS and the more recent #EndBadGovernance and #EndHunger movements.

In the "Quality of Life category", Nigeria scored in the “very bad” range across all key indicators, including food, health, housing, work, water, and sanitation, with only 38.25% of Nigerians having access to safe water, whilst just 46.6% have basic sanitation.

Kehinde Adegboyega, HRMI’s Nigeria Ambassador, highlighted the deepening housing crisis, stating that, “rent has doubled in many urban areas while wages remain stagnant. People are selling personal belongings just to survive.”

In October 2024, the NHRC reported a surge in killings and abductions linked to economic desperation, including the death of 167 people in Jigawa State during a fuel tanker explosion, many of whom were scooping fuel to sell.

The HRMI’s report listed several countries that performed poorly across key human rights indicators, particularly in civil and political rights, as well as economic and social rights.

Nigeria, Venezuela, and Mexico scored among the worst globally for civil and political rights, particularly in protection from arbitrary arrest, torture, and protest repression.

Iran, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Mozambique, and Kenya were also flagged for widespread violations, including extrajudicial killings, repression of dissent, and lack of press freedom.

In economic and social rights, Haiti, South Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Nigeria were rated in the “very bad” range due to poor access to food, water, housing, and healthcare.

HRMI data is based on input from in-country experts, peer-reviewed social science methods, and global human rights indicators.

"We found most of them in decile 6 and above. This means that their economic conditions have improved and they are more independent. So, they are no longer in decile 1, 2, or 3," said Yusuf in his statement .

The government uses a decile-based system to classify socioeconomic status, with deciles 1–4 representing the poorest 40% of the population.

The data-driven overhaul is guided by the National Social and Economic Single Data (DTSEN) system, now the central reference point for social aid allocation. The reallocated funds will now be directed toward extremely poor families deemed more in need of support.

“This means that we are diverting social assistance to those who are more entitled to receive it,” said Yusuf, adding that data will be updated regularly to keep the program responsive to current needs.

The DTSEN update process incorporates both formal and participatory mechanisms. The formal process involves data integration across government agencies, while the participatory path relies on public input through the Cek Bansos mobile app, which allows individuals to propose themselves or others for aid or to contest existing data.

“We ask the public to complete the requirements in the app if they want to propose or refute data,” said Yusuf. If validated by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the changes will be reflected in future distribution cycles.

Speaking at a recent event, FPB Acting CEO Ephraim Tlhako stressed the critical need for vigilance in the digital age.

“Sexual abuse perpetrated against children remains a growing concern, both in South Africa and globally,” the FPB said.

“We need to be aware, we need to be very vigilant on what our children are having access to. Because with that device that’s connected to the internet, that child is now communicating with millions and millions of strangers online,” SABC further quotes Tlhako

Tlhako noted that the online space poses unique and often more serious threats than the physical world . He emphasised that while government agencies are collaborating with departments such as Basic Education and Social Development, as well as with major social media platforms, parental involvement remains essential.

“ Government can come up with a lot of legislation, but it’s still our responsibility as parents to ensure that we are doing our part,” he added.

Child rights advocacy groups have echoed the FPB’s call, urging the government to step up its child protection frameworks, including better enforcement of digital safety laws and more public education on cyber risks.

"We call for reparatory justice frameworks to help overcome generations of exclusion and discrimination," Guterres said.

The transatlantic slave trade, spanning from the 15th to the 19th century, left an indelible mark on humanity. At least 12.5 million Africans were forcibly transported across the Atlantic, enduring brutal voyages to be sold into bondage.

The ramifications of this barbaric practice reverberated across generations, devastating African cultures, economies, and institutions, with profound and lasting effects on the continent's development.

Advocates for reparations have long championed the cause, but recent years have seen a groundswell of support worldwide, particularly from African nations.

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, at a reparations conference in Accra , passionately called for financial reparations to Africans and the diaspora, stressing the overdue recognition of the profound economic, cultural, and psychological impact of slavery.

"The entire period of slavery meant that our progress, economically, culturally, and psychologically, was stifled. You cannot quantify the effects of such tragedies, but they need to be recognized," President Akufo-Addo said.

Historical wounds resurfaced as Namibia's late President Hage Geingob in January 2024 accused the Germans of perpetrating the first genocide of the 20th century during colonial rule in Namibia.

“On Namibian soil, Germany committed the first genocide of the 20th century in 1904-1908, in which tens of thousands of innocent Namibians died in the most inhumane and brutal conditions. The German Government is yet to fully atone for the genocide it committed on Namibian soil,” said the late Geingob in a statement released on social media following the European nation’s disapproval of South Africa’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) genocide case against Israel.

Geingob's poignant remarks underscored the ongoing struggle for acknowledgement and redress for past atrocities, highlighting the necessity of confronting historical injustices.

In November 2023, German President Frank Walter Steinmeier while on a visit to its former colony Tanzania expressed remorse for atrocious acts committed by the Germans which resulted in the death of an estimated 300,000 Tanzanian natives between 1905 and 1907, roughly one-third of the indigenous population at the time.

Meanwhile, in a move to address its historical ties to the slave trade, the Church of England's 100-million-pound fund faced criticism from an oversight group led by descendants of enslaved Africans. The group deemed the fund insufficient, advocating for a tenfold increase to adequately address the church's historical complicity in the exploitation of enslaved people.

A U.N. report from September 2023 suggested that nations think about making financial amends for slavery.

Although the concept of compensation for slavery has a long history, the movement has gained support all around the world.

By 1800, the slave trade cut Africa's population in half compared to what it would have been, a 2017 research released by the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) reported.

According to local news outlet New Vision , these persons go to the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) to access their death certificate with which they process their savings.

This was discovered by the institution after the culprits used their biometric fingerprint in the process of accessing their credentials.

Ayota told New Vision that accessing savings for the dead takes a longer period because checks are done at the grave and in the community to ensure the person is really deceased.

“There is always an outcry by members to receive their money when they are still young and energetic. If you are young and energetic, then you can work harder and make more out of what you are earning now, you don’t need your future funds now,” he is quoted to have said.

Speaking during a regional employers’ meeting organized by NSSF, the managing director explained that the situation came to their notice after a whistleblower exposed some employers who failed to pay the funds of their employees.

In such cases Ayota explains, they are investigated and given the opportunity to remit after which they are prosecuted upon failure to do so.