As this course will show, there are many methods that governments, civil society organizations, and international actors can play in preventing election violence. The case of the 2019 elections in Guinea-Bissau highlights not only that peaceful elections are possible, but how fair elections give citizens hope for a better future. The case also shows what a peaceful election with successful election violence prevention methods looks like. Watch the AlJazeera video below to see a few election violence prevention mechanisms in action.
The videos on Guinea-Bissau's 2019 election cycle highlight the value of peaceful elections. For many citizens, a free and fair election can lead to widespread change and a newfound adherence to democratic norms. Still, a lot of monitoring, planning, and action is required to ensure peaceful elections both on the part of the local community and the international community. In the case of Guinea-Bissau, changing the culture in which the candidates interact with each other prevented supporters from turning to violence. Additionally, independent election observers help to maintain the result's integrity.
The 2019 election was ultimately won by the opposition party candidate, Umaro Sissoco Embalo. This was the first time a candidate not backed by the long-standing dominant party PAIGC won a presidential election. Embalo had been a Prime Minister from 2016 - 2018 and member of the ruling party during the previous regime but he broke with the President and his party and helped to form a new opposition party. The peaceful elections helped make it possible for a fair and credible election and a peaceful transition of power. That said, over the past 15 months, the government has existed on a somewhat fragile footing. The Supreme Court did not recognize the legitimacy of Embalo's electoral victory for over 8 months and the country still remains very impoverished due to the COVID-19 pandemic, massive foreign debt, and a strong reliance on foreign assistance.
Think about your own country or one you work in. Does that country have peaceful elections? Why or why not?
