Angolans went to the polls last week and overwhelmingly re-elected the ruling party, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA). The Union for the Total Independence of Angola (Unita), the longtime opposition party has conceded, a far cry from the 1992 elections after which Unita took up arms rather than accept defeat at the polls. The counting continues, but indications are that MPLA has garnered more than 80% of the vote with Unita's tally hovering at 10%.
The election was far from perfect to be sure. EU observers witnessed intimidation and various forms of malfeasance. Allegations of coercion and other improprieties abound. But however tentative, this flawed election also represents a real step forward. While we all want free and clear elections in Africa, there is also a tendency to make the perfect the enemy of the good. In this case we should rightly lament the intimidation and coercion and irregularity, both because it undermines liberal democratic principles, but also because it appears to have been so unnecessary given MPLA's margin of victory. Still, the election marks a step forward, however tentative and halting, for Angola. Now the goal must be to build on these minor successes so that the next elections fully pass muster.