Events
1st Dialogue-Seminar on Elections and Democracy in Africa : Elections and Democracy in Africa: New Perspectives, Lessons Learned and Best Practices
From
To
By invitation
The African Union’s Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security and the Policy Center for the New South are jointly organizing the 1st Dialogue-Seminar on Elections and Democracy in Africa.
Titled “Elections and Democracy in Africa: New Perspectives, Lessons learned and Best Practices”, the Dialogue-Seminar aims to address the crucial role of free, fair, and transparent elections in establishing stability, legitimacy, and inclusive governance across Africa. While elections are a cornerstone of democratic processes, the continent faces challenges like electoral violence, manipulation, and inadequate electoral procedures as well as weakness in terms of institutional capabilities.
This Dialogue-Seminar, to be organized at the margins of the 3rd Training of the AU Elections Observers, aims to enhance the understanding of the key issues related to elections, democracy, and political stability in Africa. Participants, including African Union officials, civil society representatives, and media professionals, will have the opportunity to engage in peer learning and collaborative explorations of strategies for advancing democratic governance in Africa.
The Seminar outcomes and recommendations will inform policy discussions, capacity-building initiatives, and advocacy efforts aimed at strengthening democratic practices throughout Africa.
Opening Session
Closing Remarks
Agenda
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08:30 – 09:30 |
Registration of Participants |
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09:30 – 09:45 |
Opening Session Welcoming remarks Mr. Karim El Aynaoui, Executive President, Policy Center for the New South Keynote speech H.E Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security |
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09:45 – 10:00 |
Group Photo |
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10:00 – 11:00 |
Plenary Session 1 Electoral Reforms in Africa: Necessity, Innovation, and Sustainable Practices The panel will focus on two key issues: the necessity of reforms in electoral processes and the specific types of reforms required. Reforms are essential to ensure peaceful elections and enable electoral management bodies (EMBs) to adapt to changing circumstances. Increasing election costs and citizens' demands for better engagement and participation drive the need for innovative reforms. Countries should aim for greater self-reliance in conducting electoral activities rather than depending solely on donor resources. Building robust institutions with permanent EMB structures is crucial for sustainable mechanisms and improved collaboration with relevant government departments. Speakers H.E Ambassador William Awinador-Kanyirige, Special Advisor, Office of the AU Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security Prof. Oumar Ba, Professor, Centre for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies and expert of AU Election Observation Missions Prof. Nadia Bernoussi, Member of the UN Human Rights Consultative Committee Ms. Sara Hasnaa Mokaddem, Manager, Strategic Monitoring and Analysis, Policy Center for the New South Dr. Roba Sharamo, Director, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance Moderator Ms. Patience Chiradza, Director of Governance and Conflict Prevention, AU Commission General discussion |
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11:00 – 11:15 |
Coffee break |
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11:15 - 12:15 |
Plenary Session 2 Civil Society, Media and Elections: Ensuring Fairness, Promoting Transparency, and Fostering Peace This panel will explore the critical roles of civil society and media in ensuring fair and transparent elections, fostering peace and public trust. It will examine how civil society organizations can promote voter education, monitor electoral processes, and advocate for accountability. The role of media in providing balanced coverage, fact-checking information, and facilitating public discourse will be analyzed. Ultimately, the panel will highlight how a strong civil society and independent media are cornerstones of peaceful and democratic elections. Speakers Mr. Ahmed Said Abbas, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the Union of Comoros H.E. Amina Bouayach, President, National Council of Human Rights of Morocco Dr. Paul-Simon Handy, Director, Institute for Security Studies H.E Abdallah Saaf, Professor, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University Dr. Baidessou Soukolgue, Executive Director, Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa Moderator H.E. Ambassador Mohammed Loulichki, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South |
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12:15 – 12:30 |
Closing Remarks H.E Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Mr. Karim El Aynaoui, Executive President, Policy Center for the New South |
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12:30 – 14:00 |
Lunch |
