Youth activist Jessica Uiras says taking part in the fourth edition of the Specialised Training for African Union Election Observers was a powerful reminder that the future of democracy in Africa rests firmly in the hands of its citizens, including the youth.
She added that this underscored the vital role that young leaders must play, not just as participants, but as stewards of fair, transparent and inclusive electoral processes.
“Young people’s readiness, resilience, and commitment are essential to building strong institutions and ensuring that democratic values take root and flourish across the continent,” she said.
The 4th edition of the African Election Observers Training Cycle opened on 21 April 2025 in Rabat (Morocco), with the participation of senior officials representing 52 African countries.
The 4th edition stands out due to the participation of more than 120 young civil society actors, experts and senior officials from all five regions of the continent, representing 52 African countries including Mali, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Guinea, Niger and Sudan.
This session is also notable for the significant participation of African women, who make up 68% of the total participants. Thus, by organising this specialised training cycle for the fourth consecutive year, Morocco continues to distinguish itself as the leading African provider of trained observers, based in Rabat, to supervise electoral processes in Africa. This is a significant contribution to strengthening Africa’s electoral capacities.
“The programme strengthened our technical and practical skills across the electoral cycle — from pre-election assessments and election day observation to reporting and post-election analysis. We engaged in sessions on information-gathering, stakeholder engagement, security considerations, election-day simulations, and the importance of legal frameworks in democratic processes,” said Uiras.
She indicated that youth and women made up 68% of the participants, reflecting the AU’s commitment to building inclusive and representative democratic spaces.
The training coincided with significant milestones, including the launch of Morocco’s FEMWISE initiative and the 2nd Dialogue Seminar on Elections and Democracy in Africa. These events, particularly the adoption of the Rabat Call for Action, emphasised the need to amplify women’s leadership and dismantle barriers to young women’s political participation.
Commissioner Bankole Adeoye’s statement during the opening ceremony strongly resonated with me: “Democracy is hollow without democratic dividends; democracy is shallow without development.” As young observers, our role extends beyond monitoring elections to advocating for systems that deliver peace, inclusion, and tangible development outcomes for all Africans.
“This experience reaffirmed my belief that Africa’s democratic future rests in the hands of its youth — prepared, empowered and committed to building peaceful and inclusive societies where no one is left behind,” Uiras added.
-psiririka@nepc.com.na