ECES support to the Association of African Election Authorities

On May 12th and 13th 2022, ECES supported via the funding of the Italian Foreign Affairs Ministry and international Cooperation the meeting of the Association of African Election Authorities held in Accra.

The meeting had the aim to revive and reestablish the engagement of the 45 Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) member of the organization in Africa following a period of inactivity due to the burst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the meeting aimed at identifying the specific areas of support for each other in upcoming elections in the members' countries, getting the approval for its strategic plan and revitalising the association

Founded in 1996 the Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA), is an association with the objective of gathering, challenging, and supporting Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) in order for them to administer free and fair elections in their respective countries. 

In line with the above, and with its constant work to offer support to countries in their electoral journey, ECES is proud to share the same vision as AAEA and has offered technical and financial support to the Association as a way of assisting the implementation of their activities via the MoU we have signed with the African Union.

During the opening of the event ECES founder and Executive Director, Fabio Bargiacchi stated: “it is without hesitation that ECES decided to take part in this event because it is important in terms of promoting common values of democratic governance, free, fair and inclusive and credible elections in Africa” in the context of the Innov-Elections project funded by Italy.

You can find here the whole opening message for the meeting of the Association of African Election Authorities of Fabio Bargiacchi. 

ECES’ Founder and Executive Director Fabio Bargiacchi attended the meeting with ECES Senior Governance Advisor Hamza Fassi-Fhiri and ECES Project and Communication Officer Alessio Beltrami.

The meeting was attended by:

• Amb Calixte Mbari, Ag. Director, Governance and Conflict Prevention, African Union;
• Mr Robert Gerenge, Principal Advisor for Election Management Bodies within the Department of Political Affairs, African Union Commission 
• Mrs Jean Mensa, President of the Executive Committee and Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana,
• Right Rev. Calros Simao Matshine, Executive Committee Vice-President and Chairman of the National Electoral Commission of Mozambique,
• Mr Wafula Chebukati, General Assembly President, Chairman of the Independent Election Boundaries Commission in Kenya;
• Mr Ba Amadou, General Assembly Vice-President and Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mali

The Regional representatives of:

• West Africa: Mr. Doudou Ndir, Chairman, Autonomous National Electoral Commission of Senegal
• Southern Africa: Justice Dr Chifundo Kachale, Chairperson, Malawi Electoral Commission
• Central Africa: Dr Morouba Mathias Barthelemy, Chairperson, Independent Electoral Commission of the Central African Republic

The next General Assembly will be held in Maputo around November 2022 and ECES will certainly continue to support also for that crucial activity.