Africa 2026: Elections without viable option, jobs 7 MIN READ Africa By Alex Vines AfFRICA’S political and economic outlook in 2026 is defined less by crisis than by contradiction. Fewer elections are scheduled than in 2025, yet democratic choice continues to narrow where voters do go to the polls. Economic growth is set to accelerate in pockets, even as debt, unemployment and inequality tighten their grip. The continent’s global relevance is rising just as internal fragmentation deepens.