2006 in Africa

International organizations

African Union (AU)

• The AU met in
  Darfur conflict
  . Members agreed that his chairmanship would affect the credibility of the AU.

Economic Community of West African States

(ECOWAS)

• The Ordinary Summit of ECOWAS was held in
  Côte d’Ivoire, as well as the presidential elections being held in Liberia and in Guinea-Bissau. On the economic level, the Heads of State expressed their support for a plan to create a regional airline
  company "to overcome the difficulties in air transport" in the subregion.
• During the summit in
  Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo
  will begin in January 2007. Ghana will head the commission, while Burkina Faso will take the vice-presidency. ECOWAS also adopted a convention which aims "to prohibit the sale of light weapons within the community and between member states, except for the legitimate defense needs of these states or for their participation in peacekeeping operations".
• The joint summit of ECOWAS and UEMOA planned for December 22 and December 23, 2006, was cancelled following confrontations between soldiers and police officers in Ouagadougou on December 20.

Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa

(CEMAC)

• The 7th Summit of CEMAC was held in
  president Idriss Déby Itno
  in his opposition of Sudanese actions. Idriss Déby holds the chair of CEMAC.

• The 10th Ordinary Summit of the heads of state and government of the UEMOA took place on March 27, 2006, in
  Yayi Boni (the newly elected President of Benin) to ascend to the presidencies of the Central Bank of West Africa and Development Bank of West Africa respectively. They instead decided to lengthen the terms of the current temporary presidents, Damo Justin Barro (Burkina Faso) of the Central Bank and Issa Coulibaly
  (Mali) of the Development Bank until the next summit.
• The joint summit of ECOWAS and UEMOA planned for December 22 and December 23, 2006, was cancelled following confrontations between soldiers and police officers in Ouagadougou on December 20.

Other organizations

• The 6th
  president of Mali Amadou Toumani Touré if he recontested in the 2007 elections to protest against his false election promises
  .
• The 5th
  Middle East
  .
• The 2nd summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (IC/GLR) took place in Nairobi on December 14 and December 15, 2006. Representatives from 11 states in the Great Lakes Region, including heads of state, government officials and delegates from the African Union and United Nations met to sign a security pact to protect regional stability and development, which envisages a development plan costing US$ 2 billion, to be financed by member states, investors and the African Development Bank.
• In July, the Pan-African Non-Petroleum Producers Association members sign a treaty.

Elections

• Benin (politics, elections):

In the

Yayi Boni took the lead in the first round with 35.60% of the vote, in front of Adrien Houngbédji

with 24.23%. In the second round, Boni won the presidency with a majority of 74.29% against Houndbédji.

• Burkina Faso (politics, elections):

In the

president Blaise Compaoré's Congress for Democracy and Progress

.

• Cape Verde (politics, elections):

In the

African Party of Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) triumphed, garnering 50.52% of the vote (40 seats), beating the main opposition party, the Movement for Democracy (MpD) with 28 seats, and the Democratic and Independent Cape Verdean Union

(UCID) with 2 seats.

• Chad (politics, elections):

In the

president Idriss Déby won 64.67% of the vote, thus retaining his presidency. Most opposition political parties refused to participate in what they termed a "masquerade". Voter turnout

was extremely low, at 53.1%.

In the

Comorian presidential election, 2006, held in two rounds on April 16 and May 14, Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi defeated all opponents with a 58.02% majority of the national vote, succeeding Azali Assoumani in the first peaceful transfer of power

in modern Comorian history.

• Democratic Republic of the Congo (politics, elections):

In the

1960

.

• Gabon (politics, elections):

In the

president, Omar Bongo had garnered a majority. Out of the total 120 seats, coalition parties had won a total of 99 seats, compared to the 17 won by the 6 parties of the opposition. The remaining 4 seats were won by independents. An overwhelming 82 seats were won by Bongo's Gabonese Democratic Party

alone. No major incidents related to the election were reported.

• Madagascar (politics, elections):

In the

coup attempt

related to the election occurred. Furthermore, some candidates were barred from participating for various reasons.

• Mauritania (politics, elections):

In the

Mauritanian constitutional referendum, 2006, held on June 26, 96.97% voted to adopt a new constitution. Voter turnout

was 76.51%.

In the

Islamist independents won 41 seats. The former ruling party, the Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal

, won the remaining 7 seats. The elections were considered to be free and transparent by all observers and political parties.

• Seychelles (politics, elections):

In the

Seychelles People's Progressive Front was re-elected with 53.73% of the vote. His main opponent, Wavel Ramkalawan of the Seychelles National Party, won 45.71% of the vote. Voter turnout

was 88.7%.

• Uganda (politics, elections):

In the

Ugandan general election, 2006, held on February 23, the incumbent president Yoweri Museveni garnered 59.2% of the vote, compared to Kizza Besigye's 37.3%. Besigye's Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party rejected the results, alleging electoral fraud. Judges of the Supreme Court of Uganda narrowly voted to uphold the election result, despite many mentions of irregularities. The election was also the first multi-party

poll since 1986. However, a multitude of charges were brought against Besigye in the months leading up to the election, sparking claims of fabrication and widespread protests by Besigye supporters.

• Zambia (politics, elections):

In the

Movement for Multiparty Democracy secured 72 seats, while Sata's Patriotic Front won 46 seats, and the United Democratic Alliance

returned with 27 seats.

Darfur conflict

Environment

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Health

AIDS

Avian flu

Chikungunya

Cholera

Malaria

Meningitis

Sickle-cell disease

Education

• June 2006: The
  2006 Abdou Moumouni University protests over financial obligations to students from the university cause the temporary closure of Niger's only public university, Abdou Moumouni University in Niamey
  .

Children's rights

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Demography

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Sports

Athletics

• Cameroon: eleventh edition of the "Race of Hope for Africa". This competition, organized by the Cameroon Athletics Federation joined a thousand athletes on a course of 42 km that included a climb of Mount Cameroon.

Basketball

Boxing

Cycling

• Gabon: the international cycle race Tropical Amissa Bongo was held from 12 January to 15 January.

Football (soccer)

Handball

Judo

Rugby Union

Wrestling

• Senegal: a "fight of the century" was organized on 1 January in Dakar between two great figures of Senegalese wrestling. Yakhya Diop, alias Tékini won from Mohamed Ndao, alias Tyson.

Culture

Art

Film

• Benin: Fourth edition of Quintessence, international film festival in Ouidah from 7 to 11 January.

Music

Festivals

Literature

Science

Economy

See also

• List of state leaders in Africa in 2006

Notes

This text is being translated from the original French-language article.