Follow the proceedings of the "Dialogue-Seminar on Elections and Democracy in Africa," organized by the African Union Commission and the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS) this Thursday, May 2, 2024, at the headquarters of the Moroccan think tank. This event is a first in Africa given the quality of the speakers and the sensitive issues being discussed.
"Elections and Democracy in Africa: New Perspectives, Lessons Learned, and Best Practices" is the central theme of the "Dialogue-Seminar on Elections and Democracy in Africa." This event is organized by the African Union Commission and the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS) with the main goal, as specified by the organizers, to focus on electoral reforms, civil society engagement, and media integrity in the electoral process across the African continent. The open dialogue, which addresses sensitive issues such as transparency and thus the financing of elections, also tackles the challenges of sustainable election management putting many governments in Africa under pressure, all in view of proposing innovative solutions.
The first "Dialogue-Seminar on Elections and Democracy in Africa" is held concurrently with the third specialized training for AU electoral observers co-organized by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Residing Abroad and the African Union.
Participants in this training (more than 80 from various African countries) are taking part in the dialogue-seminar. The quality of the speakers and their active audience makes it a first in Africa. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, opens the debate, following the welcome speech by the executive president of the Policy Center for the New South, Karim El Aynaoui. Thematic panels will analyze various issues related particularly to democracy and the electoral reforms necessary to pacify these processes.
Speakers include Ambassador William Awinador-Kanyirige, Special Advisor to the Office of the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security; Professor Oumar Ba from the Center for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies, who is an expert on AU Election Observation Missions; Professor Nadia Bernoussi, a member of the UN Human Rights Advisory Committee; Sara Hasnaa Mokaddem, who is in charge of Strategic Monitoring and Analysis at the Policy Center for the New South; Dr. Roba Sharamo, who leads the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance; Said Abbas, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the Union of Comoros; Dr. Paul-Simon Handy, who directs the Institute for Security Studies; Professor Abdellah Saaf from Mohammed VI Polytechnic University; Dr. Baidessou Soukolgue who is the Executive Director of the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa.
