Invitation: Roundtable on Electoral Democracy in Africa

The Faculty of Law, University of Stellenbosch in collaboration with the African Network of Constitutional Lawyers invites you to a:

Roundtable on Electoral Democracy in Africa

5th March 2020: 16:00-19:00

6th March: 08:30 - 16:40

RSVP: Dr. Elvis Fokala, Prof Annika Rudman

Email: efokala@sun.ac.za

This roundtable provides an opportunity for academics, non-governmental organisations, policy-makers and stakeholders to discuss the importance of strengthening electoral democracy in Africa. The main focus will be on Presidential Elections.

Since the 1990s, all African Union (AU) member states have held elections at least once. In 2018 and 2019 alone, 25 presidential elections were scheduled in various countries across the continent. During this time, 15 of the 25 elections scheduled, were conducted and results announced. However, the quality of these elections, including whether they were truly free, fair and transparent remains the main challenge. Consequently, it is important to ask (i) what constitutes and regulates the mechanisms and principles necessary to promote a vigorous, fair and free electoral competition; and (ii) what conditions (socio-economic and political) foster such elections?