2022

Democracy, Elections and Governance 2022

• The DPAPS successfully established synergies and coordination between the African Governance Platform (AGP) and the PSC, through closer partnership with AGP Members.
• The AU also maintained its focus on elections as key to democratic consolidation, peacebuilding and political stability. Consequently, from January to October 2022, the AUC deployed short and long-term election observer missions to undertake an impartial assessment of the electoral process in eight (8) Member States, namely Somalia, Gambia, Republic of Congo, Senegal, Kenya, Angola, Sao Tome and Principe, Lesotho and Tunisia. These elections, as observed by the AU, took place in a peaceful political and democratic environment, despite a broader continental political climate marked by the resurgence of Unconstitutional Changes of Government (UCGs).
• The DPAPS organized, with the Kingdom of Morocco, the first specialized training workshop for AU short term election observers, from 13 to 17 June 2022, in Rabat, Morocco, to augment AU’s capacity to observe elections in Africa.

Constitutionalism, Rule of Law and Governance 2022

• DPAPS ensured the implementation of the ACDEG, and the Popularization of the continental framework for AU organs and institutions, as well as Member States on the nature and scope of legitimate constitutional amendments. In what pertains to the ACDEG the overall objective of the project was to entrench the culture of democracy and good governance, as well as respect of rule of law and human rights within the future generation to foster the implementation of the African Union Agenda 2063.
• Five (5) regional consultative processes for rule of law stakeholders like the judiciary, parliament, law enforcement officers, legal profession, civil society, academia, and NHRIs were also convened to promote a multi-disciplinary approach to rule of law while addressing improved access and utilization of regional mechanisms for justice delivery. The regional forum highlighted the importance of ACDEG and encouraged its ratification and domestication in Member States. Also, stakeholders were provided with skills on institutional building for the promotion of rule of law and increase the accessibility of the Constitutionalism and Rule of Law unit to stakeholders.
• As a follow-up to these regional consultations, a pedagogical toolkit is currently being developed for the rule of law stakeholders in Africa. A strategy will also be developed to promote and implement the toolkit among AU Member States. The re- emergence of UCG demonstrates the fundamental need to review and strengthen the AU normative frameworks on good governance and participatory democracy.
• Further, in line with the Decision of the 16th Extraordinary Summit on terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government and PSC decision during its 791st meeting held on 22 August 2018 on Peace, Security, Prosperity and Embracing the Value of Democracy and Governance, guidelines for amending national constitutions were developed. These Guidelines are based on the AU's shared values on constitutionalism and democratic rule, which are essential for the sustainable peace and development of its Member States. The guidelines were amended and validated by representatives from RECs/RMs and AU Organs at the meeting held from 17 to 18 October 2022, in Niamey, Niger.

Human Rights and Transitional Justice 2022

• The Human Rights and Transitional Justice Unit embarked on several interventions in support of the AU initiative to Silence the Guns in Africa. These interventions included:
• Deployment of anti-genocide campaigns;
• Support towards the translation of the AU transitional Justice Policy into local languages like Amharic, Swahili, and Sesotho
• Training on human rights for African youth under the African youth for Transitional Justice (AY4TJ)
• The sixth (6th) continental forum on Transitional Justice held from 7 to 9 September 2022 in Lomé, Togo Republic, in collaboration with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Togo, with a view to strengthening the mechanisms and practices of Transitional Justice in the context of social capital
• A novelty in the year under review was the spotlight on the linkages between the business community on the continent and human rights. This resulted in the first ever African Business and Human Rights Forum in Accra, Ghana from 12-13 October to promote the culture of respect for human rights in Business environments across Africa.

2023

Democracy, Elections and Governance 2023

• i. Facilitating Implementation of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance
• The High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Governance, and Human Rights has catalysed informed policymaking and practice in Africa.
• At the AGP's annual statutory meetings, members of the platform agree on flagship initiatives such as the African Governance Report and review of State Party reports by member states. By these, the AGP offers guidance to member states to improve governance across the continent, addressing the root causes of conflicts and instability and ultimately contributing to the realization of Agenda 2063 - The Africa We Want.
• To ensure compliance, the AGP has begun a review of state party reports received from two Member States (Togo and Rwanda). This process helps assist in holding member states accountable for their commitments, leading to tangible improvements in governance.
• ii. Strengthening Citizen's Engagement and Popular Participation
• By providing Training of Trainers (TOT) to young people in South Sudan (as the country will have its elections in 2024), the initiative has empowered them with the knowledge and capacity to participate actively in elections and political processes.
• In Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe and Liberia, it was noted that youth who have undergone TOT have become integral participants in electoral processes, serving as voters, candidates, polling agents, and observers.
• This heightened youth engagement has breathed new life into African democracies and strengthened the representation of the continent\'s diverse population.
• iii. Strengthening the synergy between AGA and APSA
• Establishing the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) Sub- Committee on Human Rights, Democracy, and Governance has been a transformative step towards synergy and coordination.
• This sub-committee has been instrumental in bridging the gap between AU institutions, member states, and regional communities. In 2023, the sub-committee fostered collaboration between AU institutions and member states through regular meetings and joint engagements with the Peace and Security Council.
• The outcome is a unified approach to addressing issues related to good governance, democracy, peace and security, profoundly impacting the continent's stability and prosperity.
• iv. Enhancing Electoral Processes
• Efforts to enhance democratic governance on the continent continue as most countries conduct regular elections. The African Union Commission contributed to the monitoring and evaluation of democratic processes by providing technical assistance to member states, particularly election management bodies, educating citizens about political participation and electoral processes, and deploying election observation missions. Technical and political pre-election assessment and preventive diplomacy missions integrated into election observation missions have helped address pre- election, electoral, and post-election issues.
• The Kingdom of Morocco hosted and financed the second edition of the training of election observers, which saw forty people from across the five regions of the continent trained. This commitment has significantly contributed to building the AUEOMs' capacities.
• The Commission hosted the 2023 edition of the 'Implementing Organizations of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation'. This meeting gathered about 150 participants from fifty organizations worldwide at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa for the first time. The issues discussed during the three-day sessions include communication, youth participation, challenges faced by observers during missions, data protection and electoral integrity, and security considerations in complex environments. The event\'s highlight was an experience-sharing session by heads of missions from the EU, Carter Centre, NDI and the AU, which was represented by Dr Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe, the former Vice President of the Republic of Uganda.
• v. AU Elections Observation Missions Democracy at Work
• The African Union Commission deployed election observation missions to all the Member States that held general, presidential and legislative elections during the year 2023 namely, Djibouti, Nigeria, Mauritania, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Liberia, Madagascar, Egypt and DRC. However, the AU could not deploy to the Republic of Benin, and the Republic of Gabon, due to internal technical/logistical challenges and non-invitation by the host government respectively.
• Pre-election assessment missions at technical and political levels were deployed to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Republic of Sierra Leone, the Union of Comoros (in preparation for the 2024 elections), the Republic of Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Technical assistance was provided to Sierra Leone and Liberia, while post-election support was given to Sierra Leone and the Kingdom of Eswatini.
• 555 observers from the Union's 55 member nations were dispatched for the 11 missions undertaken in 2023, with at least fifty-four percent (54% being women).
• The AUEOMs continue to collaborate with RECs and RMs during election observation missions. The AU's joint observation missions with COMESA have become the most regular, with joint deployments to Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Egypt. This has helped to increase the coverage of the missions as well as collaborate on interventions during the missions.

Constitutionalism, Rule of Law and Governance 2023

• The normative framework of the African Union, in conjunction with the instrumental role played by the Peace and Security Council, has produced commendable outcomes. The utilization of this framework has effectively contributed to the establishment of constitutional governance and the smooth transition of power in numerous member states. Furthermore, it is worth noting that African populations have exhibited increased vigilance in their pursuit of respect for constitutional and democratic principles, alongside a desire for enhanced engagement in political processes.
• Some member states have demonstrated commendable advancements in the establishment of robust institutions, the adoption of sound governance principles, the implementation of judicial reforms, and the pursuit of anti-corruption endeavours. However, it is important to acknowledge that Africa has faced particular challenges in recent times, specifically concerning the re-emergence of Unconstitutional Changes of Government (UCGs). The aforementioned actions pose a potential challenge to the democratic advancements achieved in recent decades and to the overall stability and development of the continent. These serve as a reminder of the imperative for the African Union to carefully reconsider and strengthen its normative frameworks, especially the implementation of existing frameworks, to tackle emerging threats effectively and take proactive measures to prevent them. While acknowledging the commendable efforts that some member states have made, it is important to note that challenges continue to persist in the areas of constitutionalism and the rule of law.

Human Rights and Transitional Justice 2023

• Business and Human Rights
• In tandem with the African Union Business and Human Rights Policy, the DPAPS organised the second African Business and Human Rights Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in September 2023. This forum enabled sharing best practices in business and human rights among AU Member States.
• The roadmap on Business and Human Rights which have been developed include the development of a comprehensive continental program on Business and Human Rights, continued delivery of a continental African Business and Human Rights Forum, enhanced engagement with regional economic communities, and support for sub-regional Business and Human Rights Forums. The plans also include advocating for the integration of human rights expertise into the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) , promoting human rights in the free movement of persons within the AfCFTA, and addressing the human rights implications of this pivotal agreement.
• Africa Regional Consultation on the Right to Development
• The leadership of DPAPS facilitated the first-ever continental consultation on the right to development . The event, held in September 2023, laid the groundwork for developing a draft African contribution to the global agenda on the right to development.
• The Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda: African States Responsibility to Protect Citizens and Collective Development
• The commemoration of the 29th edition of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, under the theme "Kwibuka29- Remember-Unite-Renew," held in April 2023, was both a remembrance and an unwavering commitment to safeguard peace and security in Africa.
• Transitional Justice
• Technical Support to Ethiopia on Transitional Justice Policy
• Technical Support to South Sudan on Transitional Justice Implementation (The conflicts in South Sudan in 2013 and 2016 led to extensive loss of life and property, necessitating the signing of the R-ARCSS.)
• Training of African Women on Transitional Justice and the Establishment of the African Women for Transitional Justice (AW4TJ) Initiative
• The 7th Edition of the African Forum on Transitional Justice: The DPAPS, the Center for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) and the National Council for Human Rights of Morocco (CNDH) organized the seventh edition of the African Forum on Transitional Justice, from 12 to 14 September 2023 in Rabat, the Kingdom of Morocco. The Forum focused on the interconnection between transitional justice, gender equality, mental health and psychosocial support and socio-economic justice in Africa.

(i) Democracy, the Conduct of Regular Elections, and AUEOMs

• Democratic governance, being at the core of Aspiration 3 of the AU Agenda 2063, the majority of Member States continued to uphold the shared and cherished values of advancing the participation of citizens in the selection of their leaders through the ballot, respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms, enhancing the rule of law and accountability.
• Equally important is that Member States are focusing more on citizen empowerment especially women and youth, to engage in decision-making processes and the peaceful resolution of conflicts through inclusive dialogue and mediation.
• 200. Likewise, the AU Commission continues to support Member States to enhance their democratic processes through technical support and capacity enhancement programmes in the governance domain.

AU Election Observation Missions (AUEOMs)

• 201. A record number of fifteen (15) Member States in the Union organized General, Presidential, and Parliamentary elections during 2024, namely; Algeria, Botswana, Chad, Comoros, Ghana, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Togo and Tunisia. And one Member State under suspension, Gabon, organized a constitutional referendum as part of its roadmap for a return to democratic regime.
• 202. Upon invitations to the AU, the Chairperson of the Commission, as mandated by the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG), deployed observation missions to thirteen (13) of the above-mentioned fifteen (15) countries, that held democratic elections.
• 203. The AU Election Observation Missions conducted a comprehensive assessment and documentation of electoral processes and identified areas for improvement and strengthening, through policy recommendations. The Missions afforded the Commission to accelerate the implementation of the AU normative frameworks for democratic elections.

Figure 6: Percentage of Member States (MS) where AU deployed Observers in 2024

• 

• 204. In the Member States, where observer missions were deployed, the AU identified commendable practices and proffered solutions to address emerging challenges associated with electoral processes. This also informs subsequent targeted technical assistance, in order to strengthen democratic and peace institutions and future processes. The overall outcomes from AUEOMs to Member States in 2024 may be summarised as follows:
• 203. The AU Election Observation Missions conducted a comprehensive assessment and documentation of electoral processes and identified areas for improvement and strengthening, through policy recommendations. The Missions afforded the Commission to accelerate the implementation of the AU normative frameworks for democratic elections.
• • a) visible increased participation of women and youth in the political system as voters, election officials, and party agents;
  • b) However, fewer female and youth candidates were presented by political parties or as independent candidates for presidential, parliamentary, and local elections.
  • c) rise in the number of young persons as registered voters;
  • d) improving efficient delivery by many national electoral management bodies;
  • e) preventive diplomacy and lessons learning and exchange have become key components of AUEOMs;
  • f) evolving closer synergies between the Member States, RECs, and AUC, to ensure seamless conduct of AUEOM deployment
  • g) A majority of Member States are now increasingly using domestic financial resources to organize elections, thereby drastically reducing the dependence on partners to fund election processes:
  • h) Managing election results in some cases, is a huge concern and sometimes leads to post-election protests and violence despite peaceful and orderly pre- election and Election Day processes
  • i) The continuing reorganization of the AU election observation system to ensure inclusivity across the broad categories of participation by African youth, women, and civil society organizations as well as relevant AU Organs is already producing results. For example, in the case of the AU’s commitment to achieving gender parity in its election observation deployments, the ratio of female participation moved to parity and in 2024, at 66%.
• Table 10: Gender Analysis of AUEOMs in 2024

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• Figure 7: Gender Analysis of AUEOMs in 2024

• 
• The peaceful nature of political transitions following democratic elections in the Republics of Botswana, Ghana, Mauritius, and Senegal, are also landmarks achieved in 2024. However, in a few cases, election results have been contested culminating in post-election violence by losing political parties, citing mistrust and non-transparency in election outcomes management. In effect, some parties alleged that election results did not reflect the will of the people. It is therefore important for election administration authorities to ensure higher levels of transparency and accountability, particularly in results collation and transmission processes. African Governments are also encouraged to ensure the timely provision of budget resources for elections to give the EMBs adequate preparation for elections.

AU Support to Electoral Processes

• The AUC continues to support Member States through the Electoral Management Bodies in the preparation for elections.
• 211. Through the assessment, the AUC identified the needs of public institutions and processes supporting democracy to design an appropriate technical support mechanism ahead of elections. The Commission prepared a comprehensive strategy to support the request from the Republic of South Sudan. This entailed the capacity building of the electoral commission including the procurement of fifty (50) laptops, and training programmes conducted for various stakeholders including women and youth on effective participation in the electoral processes throughout the electoral cycle.
• 212. Furthermore, pre-election assessment missions were conducted in four (4) countries – South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana and Ghana. The missions assessed the state of preparedness of each country and provided technical guidance accordingly by reviewing the progress made in implementing AUC’s recommendations based on thematic priorities relevant to each country’s democratic trajectory.

Specialized Training of Short-Term Observers, Women and Youth

• Third Specialized Training Programme for African Election Observers, held in Rabat, Morocco: The third cohort of the Specialized Training Program for African short-term election observers took place in Rabat, Morocco, from 29 April to 3 May 2024. This edition brought together youth and women representatives from all five AU regions. Launched in 2022 as a joint initiative between the govern of the Kingdom of Morocco and the AU Commission, this Programme reached a milestone with the participation of 70 potential election observers. These participants, ready for deployment across the Continent were drawn from 42 AU Member States, with a full gender parity. The training successfully advanced its strategic objective of strengthening the knowledge, efficiency and responsiveness of the AU Election Observation Missions, contributing to the effective execution of Africa’s democratic agenda.
• 214. The trainees also benefited from the Seminar on “Elections and Democracy in Africa” as an interface with researchers, analysts, and practitioners hosted by the Policy Centre of the New South based at the Mohamed VI University in Rabat, organized on the sidelines of the training. The Seminar explored the necessary reforms to improve the efficiency of electoral processes in Africa with a focus on the critical roles of civil society and media in ensuring fair and transparent elections, fostering peace and public trust.
• Training for African Women, Youth, and Technical Experts: Two training programs, one for women and youth on elections and political participation and another for a core group of technical experts, were organized by the PAPS Department, in Nairobi, and Gaborone, in June and August 2024, respectively. Both were supported by the European Union, EISA, and International IDEA.

International Cooperation in Election Observation

• In the spirit of promoting South/South Cooperation, the AU was invited to the presidential elections Bolivian Republic of Venezuela in South America. The AU participation afforded the Commission the opportunity to witness and study how democratic elections are organized in another developing region of the Global South.
• For the first time, the AU, upon invitation, deployed a peer learning mission to the 2024 European Parliamentary Elections, covering three (3) EU countries; Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg. This provided a platform for African electoral stakeholders and AUC to share experiences and build partnerships with the EU on the conduct and management of democratic elections.
• Furthermore, the Commission engaged in the 2024 platform on the Declaration of Principles (DoP) for International Election Observation in Warsaw, Poland. The DoP platform was an opportunity for the AUC to influence global perceptions about elections in Africa.

(ii) Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law

Second African Union Reflection Forum on UCG- Accra ll

• The Second African Union Reflection Forum (Accra ll) on Unconstitutional Changes of Government (UCG) in Africa was held on 18 to 19 March 2024, in Accra, Ghana, under the auspices of the AU PSC, and the leadership of H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana.
• The Accra II Forum took stock of the achievements and gaps in the rollout of the Accra and Malabo Declarations, by revisiting the existing tools to find innovative solutions to efficiently prevent and respond to UCGs. The forum called for the need to go beyond condemnation and take concrete actions in addressing UCGs to ensure non-recurrence. The AUPSC was urged to speed up the operationalization of the PSC Sub-Committee on Sanctions to ably monitor the implementation of the PSC decisions on UCGs. Happily, this has been effected by the PSC.
• In addition, Accra ll renewed the essence of coordination, cooperation, and coherence of the efforts by the AU, RECs/RMs, CSOs, and international organizations in order to support countries in complex political transitions.
• The Accra II Forum urged the African people to actively engage in the democratic processes in their respective countries. In the same vein expressed the need for all stakeholders to support government programmes aimed at improving the lives and livelihoods of the people. To this end they stressed the nexus between democracy and development and urged all partners, including the AU Commission, UN and international partners to support the realization of this nexus.
• The AUC was urged to scale up guidance and technical support to countries in conflict situations as a result of unconstitutional changes of government and to adopt strategic pathways to accompany their transitional processes.
• The Forum made strong call for the African people to reject coup d’etats and their proponents and seek to address their grievances through existing national processes.

Study on Root Causes and Structural Drivers of Unconstitutional Changes of Government

• It is to be noted that the spectre of unconstitutional changes of government remains a huge concern as the political transitions in the six (6) suspended Member States, were stalled, except Gabon which organized a peaceful and orderly referendum on its new constitution.
• In response to the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government in the continent, an in-depth experts’ study on Unconstitutional Changes of Government (UCG) was mandated by the 1061st Session of the AU Peace and Security Council. The study was commissioned to offer a comprehensive understanding of the causes/drivers, consequences, and impact of UCG, as well as to draw actionable recommendations for better prevention and management.
• Once reviewed and endorsed by the Peace and Security Council, the research will serve as one of the basis and reference knowledge output for the AU to elaborate a new doctrine on preventing and managing UCG situations thereby reinforcing the continent's dedication to constitutionalism and the rule of law.

Launching the Pilot Phase of ACDEG School Curricula Project

• 231. The Pilot phase of the ACDEG School Curricula Project was launched in Abidjan under the distinguished patronage of the Ivorian Minister for National Education and Literacy, H.E. Mrs. Mariatou Kone. Following the continent-wide development of various manuals, tools, and curricula in the past three (3) years, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea Bissau were chosen by the meeting for the West Africa phase, to serve as pilots for mainstreaming the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) into school curricula. Similar ones are expected in the remaining 4 regions.
• 232. The ACDEG project provides a platform for educating a new generation of young Africans to learn and imbibe the values of democracy, good governance, respect for the rule of law, and human rights, as enshrined in the African Charter. It will contribute to equipping young Africans with the required skills to become responsible citizens who can build a better, more prosperous, and democratic Africa, in line with and as part of the implementation of the AU Agenda 2063.

Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions (AFSIT)

• Pursuant to the decision by the 2022 16th AU Extraordinary Assembly of Heads of State and Government on Unconstitutional Changes of Government and Terrorism, the AU Commission and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) co- created the Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transition (AFSIT). Launched on 15 July 2023, the AFSIT seeks to strengthen governance and uphold development gains during complex political transitions. The AU Peace Fund contributed financially to the AFSIT program implementation in 2024.
• In 2024, AFSIT deployed a strategic support mission to Niger, provided support to women parliamentarians and the National Transition Council in Mali, facilitated dialogue platforms between citizens and the National Council of the Transition in Guinea, provided technical assistance to the transition process in Chad, and deployed assessment missions to South Sudan and Burkina Faso; and the deployment of an AU solidarity mission of experts to monitor the Referendum on the new Constitution of the Gabonese Republic held on 16 November 2024.
• At the regional level, AFSIT facilitated three (3) regional dialogues in 2024 which convened senior representatives from the AU, UN, RECs/RMs, and non- governmental stakeholders. The dialogues focused on reimagining cooperation during transition periods, building understanding about complex political transitions, exchange of experiences, best practices, and lessons learned, and strengthening collaboration between state and non-state actors — including opposition parties and civil society.
• In addition, AFSIT supported the development of the Africa Transition Index (ATI), which provides robust and data-driven analysis of political transitions. In partnership with UNDP, AFSIT is currently developing a Futures Forecast Study for Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Gabon, leveraging the Integrated Futures forecasting tool to provide a detailed analysis of development trajectories and potential outcomes. The study will align with the Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, presenting macro-level projections up to 2030 and 2043.

AU Transitional Justice

• 237. The AU Transitional Justice Policy (AUTJP) is a key AU strategy aimed at promoting peace, justice, national reconciliation, and democratization in post-conflict and post-authoritarian societies in Africa. The AUTJP Roadmap (2021-2024) identifies both state and non-state actors as critical stakeholders whose collaboration is essential to achieving the policy’s objectives. This transitional justice mechanism provides post-conflict and post-authoritarian societies with the tools, through capacity building, to escape cycles of instability, human rights violations, and poor governance

Support to Member States Implementing Transitional Justice Processes

• To facilitate the effective implementation of transitional justice processes in Member States, the AU Commission provided technical support to The Gambia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic (CAR), and Lesotho.
• In the DRC, AU support has resulted in the development of a draft National Transitional Justice Policy. On her part, Ethiopia adopted a Transitional Justice Policy and its Implementation Roadmap. In South Sudan, following the passage by the National Assembly, the President of the Republic of South Sudan assented to the Commission on Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing (CTRH) and Compensation and Reparations Authority (CRA) Act on 3rd September 2024. The AU Commission deployed a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support expert for one year to help in the establishment of a survivor and mental health support unit in the Ministry of Justice and under the Truth Commission in South Sudan.
• AU assistance to the Central African Republic is expected to help establish a new Truth and Reconciliation Commission shortly. The AUC is also providing technical assistance to Lesotho for a transitional justice needs assessment, which will guide efforts to promote national peace and stability. The official launch of transitional justice interventions to popularize the AUTJP took place on 15 October 2024 in Maseru, Lesotho./li>
• At the regional level, the AU is providing support to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) through the recruitment of expert to assist in the development of transitional justice and human rights mechanisms for its Member States. This initiative helps to consolidate peace and security, while deepening the culture of respect for human rights and justice in the IGAD region.
• The strategic approach by the Commission to increase Women and Youth participation in transitional justice is progressing steadily. Thus, the Commission implemented a series of programmes to empower youth across the continent with knowledge of transitional justice principles and practices, with a specific focus on the AUTJP. Over 300 youth-especially from post-conflict countries, participated. These efforts culminated in the establishment of the African Youth for Transitional Justice (AY4TJ) Platform, which includes opportunities for career mentorship, involvement in AU programs, and research.
• More young Africans are now more engaged in transitional justice studies and practice, and some have founded youth-led continental groupings to coordinate efforts, such as the Youth Organization for Research and Justice Advocacy (YORJA). Another important initiative in the AUTJP Roadmap is the African Youth Fellowship on Transitional Justice. The fellowship is designed to deploy its members in transitional justice processes across Africa, putting their training to practical use.
• Following the continental training on AUTJP, the AU Commission, through the PAPS Department, set up a task force for women, resulting in the formation of the African Women for Transitional Justice (AW4TJ) Platform.
• Support to IGAD Human Rights and Transitional Justice mechanism: As part of strengthening the nexus between transitional justice and human rights in East Africa, the AU conducted consultations with IGAD Member States from 30 January to 1 February 2024, towards the development of an IGAD Human Rights and Transitional Justice mechanism. The key output of the consultations was IGAD decision to design an IGAD’s Transitional Justice and Human Rights Protocol Mechanism. The AU is partnering with the UNOHCHR Regional Office for Eastern Africa on this project.
• Promoting AU-inspired processes on Transitional Justice: The transformative power of education was re-emphasized at the 8th TJ Forum, held in Port Louis, Mauritius, from September 11–12, 2024, in alignment with the AU 2024 annual theme. The Forum recognized education as a critical tool for fostering a culture of peace, respect for human rights, justice, and resilience.
• Acknowledging the profound trauma experienced by victims of human rights violations in post-conflict and post-authoritarian contexts in Africa, the Forum emphasized the urgent need to prioritize Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS) for affected individuals and communities. It also recommended that the deployment of MHPSS experts to post-conflict countries become a key AU priority moving forward.
• At the 4th AU-EU Seminar of Transitional Justice , African and EU experts shared experiences, challenges, and best practices in transitional justice, and on integrating Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS). They stressed the need to focus on the transformative impact and objectives of transitional justice processes, rather than just the mechanisms involved. On the need for integration of mental health and psycho-social support in all aspects of transitional justice, interventions that are culturally relevant and incorporate existing community support systems, were indicated as crucial.
• The 30th Commemoration of 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda , was marked in April 2024, in continued solidarity with the survivors, honour the victims of the genocide, while pledging commitment to fight hate speech, genocide ideology and discrimination on the continent. The Chairperson of the Commission took part in the solemn activities in Kigali, as one of the special guests of H.E. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda.
• 250. Member States renewed their collective commitment to protect and uphold fundamental human rights. On the eve of the 30th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda, the AUC Chairperson appointed the first-ever AU Special Envoy on the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities H.E. Adama Dieng, from Senegal. The Envoy is saddled with the responsibility to among other things support the accelerated implementation of the AU's broader strategy to prevent genocide, mass atrocities, and related crimes across the continent.
• 251. The Special Envoy undertook a series of engagements covering the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and South Sudan. The focus of the Special Envoy’s consultations with various stakeholders, including political leaders, CSOs, internally displaced persons (IDPs), bordered on addressing human rights violations, combating impunity and hate speech, promoting inter-communal dialogue, and preventing violent and armed conflicts.
• 252. In addition, the engagements highlighted national and globally -recognized efforts in reconciliation and atrocity prevention. The Envoy explored lessons that could be shared to strengthen genocide and atrocity prevention mechanisms across Africa.

(a) Democracy, Elections, and Governance

• 139. Enhancing Electoral Processes: The AU Commission has persistently reaffirmed democratic governance as a cornerstone of peace, security, and sustainable development, in alignment with Aspiration 3 of Agenda 2063 through advancing citizen participation, institutional accountability, and respect for human rights as essential drivers of stability and social cohesion. Building on these foundations, efforts were intensified to promote inclusive governance, empowering women, youth, and persons with disabilities, while fostering dialogue and mediation as tools for conflict prevention and peaceful political transitions.
• 140. Electoral preparedness in Member States scheduled to organize elections in 2025 and early 2026 was assessed through pre-election assessment missions, namely: in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Seychelles, Tanzania, and Uganda. The missions also integrated a technical needs assessment component, which identified areas requiring targeted support. This approach reinforced the AU’s commitment to strengthen the institutional capacity of national electoral bodies, promoting transparent and credible electoral processes, and ensuring coherence with continental democratic governance standards.
• 141. Specifically, the AU Commission supported capacity building for electoral institutions through targeted interventions based on prior needs assessments. The BRIDGE (Building Resources in Democracy, Governance, and Elections) training, held in August 2025 in Dakar, Senegal, enhanced the professional skills of 30 participants from national electoral bodies and Supreme Courts across AU Member States scheduled to hold elections between 2025 and 2027. This was followed by a Peer-to-Peer Exchange Visit later in August 2025, involving representatives from the Guinean electoral bodies, who engaged with electoral institutions in Senegal to share best practices. Together, these initiatives reflect the AU’s commitment to providing technical assistance that strengthens the capacity of national electoral bodies to deliver credible, transparent, and peaceful elections in line with continental standards.
• 142. Furthermore, the AUC deployed a preventive diplomacy initiative ahead of, during, and after the 2025 General Elections in Malawi in partnership with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). They contributed to the peaceful conduct of the elections, the prevention and management of election-related conflict, and resulted in the direct engagement and capacity building of 180 election stakeholders in all the regions in dialogue, identification of region-specific potential triggers for election-related conflict and the development of consensus-driven strategies to address them, creation of regional platforms for political dialogue, 13 high-level pre-election consultation and eight high-level post-election engagements with election stakeholders.
• 143. The AUC established the Women’s Political Participation Academy and trained 204 aspiring women parliamentary candidates ahead of the 2025 Malawi General Elections on campaign design, management, and strategies. The exercise also focused on strategies to manage and counter gender-based violence and discrimination. Of those trained, 202, representing 98.5%, successfully filed their nomination papers to stand for elections: 52% (25 out of 48) of the women who stood and won parliamentary seats in Malawi in 2025 were part of this training, including Malawi’s current Vice President, Rt. Hon. Justice Jane Ansah.
• 144. Additionally, working with the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), the AUC increased knowledge and capacity of 53 MEC civic and voter education district officials from 36 local authorities on gender equality principles, enhanced knowledge and capacity of 53 MEC civic and voter education district officials from 36 local authorities on gender equality principles, trained 48 logistics and warehouse clerks trainers for deployment to support the training of constituency clerks to manage sensitive and none-sensitive election material and upskilled 26 internal auditors to monitor polling resources and ensured economic use and value for money across all regions. It is essential to note that all areas that received technical assistance from the AUC did not receive any negative reviews from election observers.
• 145. The AUC further supported the Malawi Civil Society Situation Room, a platform created to coordinate the de-escalation and early response to election process challenges. Such support was extended through the deployment of two experts on gender and media, which enhanced the platform's capacity to analyse and report on aspects of inclusion, particularly those associated with women’s political participation. Their efforts contributed to the qualitative escalation of specific challenges related to women in election processes, facilitating near-term redress and the refined formulation of CSO recommendations to improve inclusion in future elections in Malawi.

Specialized Training and Inclusive Election Observation

• 146. In partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco, the African Union Commission (AUC) organized the 4th Edition of the Specialized Training for Election Observers in Africa, bringing together 120 participants from 52 Member States to strengthen election observation capacities and promote democratic governance. The training, held in collaboration with the Policy Centre for the New South (PCNS), featured a dedicated session on “Inclusive Governance: Amplifying Women’s Leadership in African Electoral Processes,” fostering peer learning and advancing the AU’s Gender Equality Strategy and the Maputo Protocol through practical dialogue and reform-oriented engagement.
• 147. Mainstreaming disability inclusion in democratic governance, in line with Agenda 2063, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and the AU Disability Strategic Framework, the AU Commission promoted Inclusive Political Participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in March 2025 through engagement with Member States, Organizations of Persons living with Disabilities, civil society, academia, and development partners. The process initiated the development of a capacity-building curriculum on democracy and elections for people living with disabilities, which is to be finalized and launched later in the course of 2026.
• 148. The AU Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to continue building capacity, harmonize observation methodologies, and develop a skilled expert pool through training in September 2025. The three-day training in Algiers for 37 core team experts of AU Election Observation Missions strengthened skills in electoral assessment, stakeholder engagement, reporting, and the application of international best practices. In collaboration with the Algerian Independent National Election Authority (ANIE) and EISA, the training included networking and cultural exchanges, emphasizing methodological consistency, technical proficiency, and inclusive governance to support credible, transparent, and context-sensitive election observation.
• 149. The Pan African Parliament (PAP) has continued to play a pivotal role in the AU Election Observation methodology. Recognizing this, targeted training was provided to PAP Members to ensure alignment with other deployed observers regarding the mandate, code of conduct, and operational expectations of AU Election Observation Missions. As a result, 60 PAP Members enhanced their practical observation skills through simulation exercises, deepened their understanding of AUEOM methodology, and demonstrated adherence to ethical standards. These initiatives reflect the AU’s sustained commitment to capacity building, inclusive participation, and the professionalization of election observation, ensuring that all stakeholders, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, and PAP Members, are empowered to contribute effectively to credible, transparent, and participatory elections across the continent.
• 150. As part of extending partnerships with think tanks, the AUC built the capacity of 35 women and youth from across the continent on AU election observation tools and reporting. The training included a simulation exercise of Election Day activities to prepare participants for potential deployment. Participants were also taken through practical sessions on inclusion, media monitoring, parallel vote tabulation (PVT), and situational analysis techniques. Participants were equipped with observation templates and inclusion checklists to support the disaggregated collection of data during electoral observation. The exercise contributed to an increase in the number of trained observers on the AU election observers’ database, thereby expanding the Union's capacity to observe elections in Member States.

Figure 7

• Figure 7: AUEOMs and TA - 67 Activities implemented in 2025 AUEOMs - Election Observation Missions TA - Technical Assistance

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• Source: AUC PAPS / GCP Directorate, Democracy and Elections Unit (DEU)

International Cooperation and Peer Learning

• 151. In 2025, the AU Commission reinforced its engagement in international cooperation and peer learning to advance democratic governance, gender equality, and electoral integrity. In September, the AUC participated in NORCAP’s Observation Programme for the Norwegian Parliamentary Elections in Oslo, gaining insights to refine the AU election observation methodology. In October, the Commission partnered with the Africa Leadership Academy for Women in Politics in Kigali, as a continental and international collaboration with the African School of Governance (ASG), UNDP, and the African Women Leaders Network, contributing to the design of a programme to empower women leaders across Africa. In December, the AUC took part in the Declaration of Principles (DoP) for International Election Observation in Geneva, reaffirming its commitment to credible, transparent, and inclusive elections.

(b) AU Elections Observation Mission – Democracy at Work

• 153. In 2025, the AU deployed a total of twenty (20) election observation missions across twelve (12) Member States. These missions encompassed various electoral processes, including presidential, general, and legislative elections, as well as both first-round and runoff elections, and constitutional referenda. The AU observed elections in Burundi (Legislative), Cameroon (Presidential), Central African Republic (General), Comoros (Union Assemblies), Côte d’Ivoire (Presidential and Legislative), Egypt (Senate and House of Representatives), Gabon (Presidential and Legislative), Guinea (Constitutional Referendum and Presidential), Guinea-Bissau (General), Malawi (General), Seychelles (Presidential and National Assembly), and Tanzania (Presidential and National Assembly).
• 154. The African Union Election Observation Missions (AUEOMs) conducted in 2025 provided comprehensive assessments of electoral processes across Member States, identifying notably commendable practices and areas for improvement and policy development. These missions enabled the Commission to accelerate the implementation of AU normative frameworks on democratic elections and to strengthen its support to Member States in advancing democracy and good governance in line with regional and continental standards. Based on the findings and lessons learned from the 2025 AUEOMs, the following recommendations are proposed to further enhance the credibility, inclusivity, and integrity of electoral processes across the continent:
  • i. Promote a culture of dialogue and inclusive consensus-building as a preventive mechanism against conflicts and crises, grounded in principles of good governance and credible elections;
  • ii. Advance inclusive and transparent electoral processes by consolidating reforms across all pre-election, election, and post-election phases of the election cycle to ensure fairness, legitimacy, and citizen confidence;
  • iii. Guarantee equality among candidates, parties, and coalitions, while combating hate speech and political violence to safeguard democratic competition and civic harmony;
  • iv. Continuously strengthen the institutional independence, human, and financial capacities of Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) to enable them to fulfil their mandates effectively under all circumstances;
  • v. Promote national ownership of electoral processes by maintaining state-led funding mechanisms that uphold the sovereignty and accountability of Member States;
  • vi. Ensure equal access to public media for all electoral stakeholders to guarantee balanced information, transparency, and fairness throughout the campaign process;
  • vii. Institutionalize accessibility measures in all polling stations, including ramps and priority voting for older people and people with disabilities, to promote inclusive participatory democracy; and
  • viii. Encourage the active engagement of local observers and continue strengthening AU cooperation with Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and accredited international organizations for enhanced coordination and credibility in electoral observation.

(d) Constitutionalism, Rule of Law, and Governance

Inclusive Platform for Dialogue with Political Transition Countries in West Africa

• 165. For the advancement of peace, security, governance, and stability across the region, the African Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with the Office of the Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Ghana to the Confederation of Alliance of the Sahelian States (AES), convened a Technical Coordination Meeting on the establishment of an Inclusive Platform for Dialogue and Cohesion of Efforts between the AUC and Political Transition Countries in West Africa, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger. The meeting, held in November 2025 in Accra, Ghana, established a structured and sustained platform for open, constructive, and inclusive dialogue between the African Union and transitional governments in West Africa.
• The key outcome of this meeting is the establishment of a platform to enhance dialogue between the AUC and countries in political transition in West Africa. The platform also provided an opportunity to discuss the transition roadmap for each country, based on which the African Union will develop a clear support plan for the countries and a rapid return to constitutional order. This initiative is in line with Article 25 of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which stipulates that: “Notwithstanding the suspension of the State Party, the Union shall maintain diplomatic contacts and take any initiatives to restore democracy in that State Party.”

Constitutionalism in State-Building in Africa

• 166. Constitutionalism is fundamental to state-building as constitutions define the state's structure, legitimize its power, and establish the social contract between the state and its citizens, thereby providing the legal and political framework for governance. Effective state-building involves creating a shared national identity and democratic culture, which constitutional processes can facilitate through participatory drafting, the accommodation of diversity, and the reconciliation of past wrongs.
• It is based on this background that the Commission, in partnership with the Constitutional Court of Inquiry of Ethiopia, organized a symposium on the theme of "Constitutionalism in State-Building in Africa." The seminar examined the relationship between constitutionalism and state-building in African countries, focusing on how constitutional frameworks contribute to the consolidation of democratic governance and the stability of state institutions; analysed the role of Chief Justices and other relevant stakeholders in advancing democracy, the rule of law, and human rights across African nations; and identified the challenges to effective constitutionalism in Africa, such as political instability, weak institutions, ethnic and social divisions, and the influence of traditional or informal power structures.

(e) Human Rights and Transitional Justice

Human Rights, Peace and Security Frameworks

• 167. The AU Commission continued to contribute towards strengthening the integration of human rights into the peace and security frameworks through the reframing of the Draft AU Business and Human Rights Policy into the African Union Principles and Guidelines on Business and Human Rights (AUPG-BHR), linking corporate accountability to conflict prevention, environmental justice, and inclusive governance as well as the finalization of a consolidated cost-effective hybrid model co-hosted by the Pan-African University (PAUGHSS) of the Pan-African Human Rights Institute (PAHRI). These normative milestones enhanced the continent’s human rights education and early warning capacities, while reinforcing democratic governance, rule of law, and preventive diplomacy, in line with Agenda 2063 and the “Silencing the Guns” roadmap.

Mainstreaming Human Rights into Early Warning

• 168. The Commission conducted capacity building training for the South Sudan Human Rights Commission and selected member states in West Africa. The Regional Training for West Africa on Mainstreaming Human Rights into Early Warning (Lomé, Togo) equipped forty-eight representatives of National Early Warning Mechanisms, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and civil society with Human-Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) tools for data collection and analysis.
• Capacity-building and Preventive Action played a catalytic role in conflict prevention and institutional resilience across Member States. The creation of Preventive Action Cells (PACs) and the development of standardized Human-Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) indicators now link national and regional early-warning systems, such as CEWS and ECOWARN, embedding rights-sensitive methodologies into continental preventive structures. Complementary national interventions, including the South Sudan Human Rights Commission capacity-building workshop, have strengthened domestic oversight mechanisms and advanced compliance with Paris Principles accreditation standards, contributing directly to peaceful governance and social cohesion.

Support to Reparative Justice in The Gambia

• 169. The strategic deployment of an AU Reparative Justice Expert to The Gambia has been instrumental in the operationalization of the national Reparations Commission. This direct technical support yielded concrete results, including the establishment of the Commission's foundational governance framework, finalization of the Terms of Reference for all its committees and working groups, and the development of essential operational tools, such as victim statement-taking forms.