Election observers are citizens first
The need to reframe citizen observers as defenders, not offenders.
Citizen Observers in an Era of Global Autocratisation
How can they survive amid funding cuts and restrictive environments?
What was at risk for Benin elections?
Benin is backsliding on several key indicators.
Electoral Integrity Summit 2
20 recommendations to improve electoral integrity in Africa.
About AHEAD Africa
AHEAD Africa is a pan-African EU co-funded project that strengthens civil society’s capacity to monitor electoral related issues and improves electoral integrity across AU member states.
Guided by the AHEAD approach, the project focuses on following up on election observation recommendations to drive electoral reforms.
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Led by the European Partnership for Democracy.
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Discover all elections we support
Ethiopia
01 June 2026Ethiopians headed to the polls to choose 547 candidates to represent their needs. Observers from E-HORN and CEHRO monitored, learned from, and documented the process. What lessons were drawn from this election?
Benin
11 January 2026Weeks after a failed coup attempt in December 2025, Benin’s January 2026 elections tested democratic resilience amid a constrained civic space and rising opposition concerns, while shaping the path to the April presidential race.
Ivory Coast
25 October 2025With Ouattara seeking a fourth term and his main rivals barred, voter enthusiasm was low. 150 observers trained by CRASC-Est, Centre, and WAEON monitored the integrity of the electoral process. What were their findings?
Malawi
16 September 2025A test for the country's democracy, following the historic annulment of the 2019 election and the fresh 2020 vote, which set a precedent for judicial independence and introduced reforms under the new 50%+1 rule.
Ghana
07 December 2024A key opportunity to consolidate democratic achievements amid regional instability, disruptions, and democratic backsliding. Ghana remains a strong example of peaceful political alternation. What did we observe?
Namibia
27 November 2024A historic moment with the election of the first woman President of the country, while opposition parties rejected the results citing technical issues during the process. What are the findings and recommendations from this election?
Botswana
30 October 2024Voters ended nearly 60 years of one-party rule, with the ruling party peacefully conceding defeat once the preliminary results were announced. What are the findings and recommendations from this election?
Mozambique
09 October 2024Elections ended in a spiral of violence marked by protests, repression, and the tragic killings of opposition figures. This election ilustrated how quickly electoral disputes can escalate when trust in the process is weak. What did we learn?
South Africa
29 May 2024A turning point, with the lowest voter turnout since the end of apartheid, raising concerns about political disengagement, trust in institutions, and democratic participation. What recommendations emerge to address these challenges?
Events
Latest news
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The future of election observation
Election observation must adapt to evolving realities.
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Ethiopia: The answer is together
“If you want to go fast, you go alone. If you want to go far, you go together.”
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Election observers are citizens first
The need to reframe citizen observers as defenders, not offenders.
-
Citizen Election Observers in an Era of Global Autocratisation
Citizen election observers face threats from their own government and former democratic allies.
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