Uganda will host the first East African Post-Election Conference, the African Electoral Alliance (AEA), which is organizing the event, has announced.
An Independent, Non-Political, Non-Governmental Organization with the cardinal objective of supporting strong democratic institutions and processes and more sustainable, effective and legitimate democracy, AEA seeks to produce comparative knowledge in electoral processes, leadership capacity building, constitution building, democracy and development, as well as on several cross-cutting issues.
According to AEA, whose top bosses include Hussein Ali Sanyu, a highly reputable and experienced entrepreneur, Haruna Ali Kasaija and Hellen Katushabe, the conference will happen from Friday, August 24 to August 25, 2023 at Speke Resort & Conference Center Munyonyo Kampala, and will run from 8:30AM to 6:00 PM every day.
Over 500 representatives, including policy and law makers, members of Electoral Commissions across the East Africa region, representatives of Governments, political parties, the international community, private sector, media and civil society are will throng Munyonyo for the two-day conference.
The organizers say that participants will assess the administration of the regional general elections and develop recommendations for future reforms. Thematic panel discussions, involving representatives of state institutions, civil society, international community, the media, local and international observer organizations and political parties, will centre on the progress and shortcomings of the electoral process, findings and recommendations of various observer organizations, as well as on reflections on election campaigns and election environments in the region.
AEA officials also noted that the basis of the conference is the recent political situation in the region whose solution they believe requires concerted efforts to find. In all this, the organizers are seeking to facilitate the discussion on how the region can cope in light of recent electoral ups and downs as well as in view of the current global changes in technology and spheres.
“By some measures, the events of recent years have seemed to sound a death knell for electoral democracy across east Africa. Nefarious actors continue to sow discontent after every election, destabilizing peace and development. But there have also been compelling signs of strength: several recent elections saw the peaceful ejection of illiberal systems; protesters are standing up, despite brutal crackdowns. In countries like Kenya of recent, post-election violence has proved to be a threat to peace and development. Citizens’ groups are experimenting with exciting forms of democratic renewal that demands accountability. Collectively, these kinds of developments are cause for cautious optimism that better times lie ahead if we tackle the matter head on,” they explained.
“Do we dare to hope? The first ever east African post-election conference from August 24-25, 2023, will debate this question, looking in-depth at parallel trends: the backsliding of electoral democracy, and the relentless and innovative pursuit of it. We will also examine how rifts within some states have weakened their positions without, and how the battle for moral superiority has compromised nations’ abilities to find any common ground. Calling on politicians and policymakers as well as academics, activists and youth, our program will examine these issues and challenge participants to design concrete solutions and collaborations that will power their work for years ahead.”
The regional spotlight, which will mainly be divided under three main pillars – regional case studies, ‘rethinking’ key issues, and practical and innovative new tools – will also be on post-election violence, the long view of the opposition, the fight in South Sudan, Somalia and Congo, as well as the ongoing political situation in Kenya. Other issues to be discussed include climate change, life in the metaverse, agriculture, regional integration, Digital Diplomacy, electoral budgeting, and youth affairs.
“A special emphasis will be put on discussing the opportunities and challenges for the next electoral cycles and the necessity to establish effective dialogue platforms aimed at improving the electoral practice in the region,” the organizers further said in a statement sent to this publication.
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