“Rigged from the start,” “no suspense,” “incumbent wins in a landslide.” Across Africa’s 2025 presidential elections, a troubling pattern emerged: opposition forces were systematically sidelined before campaigns even began. The most recent examples came in early April, first in Djibouti on the 10th, then in Benin two days later. In Djibouti, incumbent President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh clinched a sixth term with 97.8% of the vote—a crushing victory in an election devoid of real competition. In Benin, the handpicked successor to outgoing leader Patrice Talon, Romuald Wadagni, claimed 94% support, further cementing a one-sided outcome.