•  At least 64 countries of the world were, and still are, expected to vote for a change in governance in 2024.
  • The UK, USA and Taiwan’s elections, are expected to have ripple effects on much more complex governance systems.
  • Other countries such as India, and South Africa also held elections in June, and May respectively, with over 1.4Billion people turning up to vote in India alone.
  • The UK’s election preparations came to a final stretch on June 27, 2024, with a head-to-head debate between incumbent prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the Conservative party and Labour leader Keir Starmer. 
  • USA prepares for a re-battle debate between current president Joe Biden and Former President Donald Trump as he awaits sentencing on 34 counts of felony charges against him.

2024 is a year that has carried so much weight since it’s onset. At least 64 countries of the world were, and still are, expected to vote for a change in governance. Some, like the UK, USA and Taiwan’s elections, are expected to have ripple effects on much more complex governance systems.

In January 2024, Taiwan, a self-ruled island, exercised its democratic right despite long-rooted tensions with mainland China, which has long-term goals of conquering the island either through peaceful reunification or war.

Other countries such as India, and South Africa also held elections in June, and May respectively, with over 1.4Billion people turning up to vote in India alone. The elections saw Narendra Modi return for a third term as Prime Minister of India and Cyril Ramaphosa return to power as South Africa’s fifth President.

A troubled Ukraine was also expected to go to the polls in March this year, but the ongoing Russian invasion led to an adoption of martial law, barring elections.

The UK’s election preparations came to a final stretch on June 27, 2024, with a head-to-head debate between incumbent Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the Conservative party and Labour leader Keir Starmer. The election is expected to be the most pivotal in the UK’s history, with the Conservative party expected to lose for the first time in 10 years.

During the debate, Sunak was accused of being too rich and out of touch with the ordinary British citizen, while he accused Starmer of taking people for fools over plans to reduce immigration.

This comes as the USA prepares for a re-battle debate between current President Joe Biden and Former President Donald Trump as he awaits sentencing on 34 counts of felony charges against him.

In Kenya, a wave of protests spearheaded by Gen Z, has swept the country with protesters calling for the ousting of incumbent President William Ruto for corruption, abuse of power and overtaxation.