EPDE attended the Experimental Learning Seminar of the African Election Observation Network (AfEONet) in Nairobi on March 24-25, 2025. Election observers from across Africa came together to discuss the challenges for election monitors face in safeguarding democracy. EPDE was invited to join this exciting event and share best practices in advocating for the implementation of electoral reform recommendations.

Shared Challenges in a Changing World

Both in Europe and Africa, we are witnessing a rise in authoritarian regimes and external malign actors who are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to manipulate elections. These hybrid threats, including disinformation campaigns and digital manipulation, are well-resourced and strategically planned, requiring us to constantly adapt our methods of monitoring.

Building Bridges Across Continents

One of the key takeaways from our discussions was the urgent need for greater horizontal cooperation between African and European citizen observer networks. By strengthening our peer networks, we can bridge this gap and share vital knowledge, methodologies, and resources. We highlighted that while many Eastern European countries have strong election observation traditions, their Western European counterparts often lack established observer organizations and would also benefit from international networks.

Learning from Each Other’s Experiences

A particularly poignant moment came when we discussed how dictators learn from each other – and how we, as election observers, must do the same. We agreed that by sharing strategies, methodologies, and advocacy tools across our networks, we can develop more effective responses to hybrid threats and election fraud.

Election Observation in Hostile Environments

In countries where international observation missions are unwelcome, domestic observers often serve as the last line of defence for democracy. We explored how strengthening African-European cooperation can fill the gaps left by international actors and enhance our collective resilience.

Countering External Influence

The growing influence of Russia and China in both Africa and Europe poses another threat to democracies. We examined how these powers actively support authoritarian regimes and interfere in democratic processes, with Russia pursuing a neo-colonial strategy and China prioritizing economic leverage over democratic values.

A Whole-of-Society Approach

Election observers alone cannot safeguard democracy. Our success depends on cooperation with election management bodies, media, judiciary, and civil society. By strengthening cross-regional and international partnerships, we can better engage with these key actors and improve voter education initiatives.

Looking Ahead: Joint Advocacy and Donor Engagement

A joint African-European platform could lead to stronger advocacy efforts if organized jointly and with more international support.

In the face of evolving threats to democracy, the AfEONet seminar in Nairobi served as a powerful reminder of the importance of international solidarity. By deepening cooperation between African and European election observer networks, we are better equipped to tackle hybrid threats, follow-up on implementing recommendations of electoral reforms, and enhance democratic resilience in both regions.

The event was hosted by the African Election Observation Network (AfEONet). AfEONet is a coordinating platform of African domestic election observers formed in 2016. Its members are the West African Election Observation Network (WAEON), East and Horn of Election Observers Network (E-HORN), and the Southern African Development Community-Election Support Network and Eastern (SADC-ESN).