Paper short abstract:

This paper offers strategic perspectives on reconceptualising and rebuilding the credibility of international election observation with a view to further enhancing its effectiveness as a tool for promoting electoral integrity and conflict prevention in Africa.

Paper long abstract:

Amidst ever-increasing concerns over a general democratic recession in Africa, most obviously demonstrated through repeatedly flawed - if not violent - electoral processes and contested outcomes, the tools designed to uphold and improve electoral quality, such as international election observation, have come under increasing scrutiny. The adoption of international election observation as a norm in international politics, its institutionalisation by the African Union and other international organisations, and the deployment of international observers to almost all elections in Africa today, does not seem to translate into improved electoral quality. Therefore, the question about the actual role and impact of international election observers remains relevant, especially as observation had been branded as a mechanism for enhancing electoral integrity, exposing irregularities and fraud, as well as contributing to preventing electoral conflict in Africa. As the continent continues to grapple with the fallacy of electoralism, it is important to critically examine international observation and the challenges and opportunities for its enhancement as a tool for electoral and democratic accountability. Using the Zambian case, this paper intends to undertake a critical and comparative assessment of the role played by international observers in the 2016 and 2021 general elections, examining lessons learned from the election observation experiences. Using meaningful lessons, it will offer strategic perspectives on reconceptualising and rebuilding the credibility of international election observation with a view to further enhancing its effectiveness as a tool for promoting electoral integrity in Africa.

Paper short abstract:

This paper looks at the quantity and quality of domestic initiatives that received accreditation to conduct observation of Kenya's 2022 polls, and considers the various motivations that different individuals and groups may have in offering their services as observers.

Paper long abstract:

Kenya's elections are always closely 'observed', and the August 2022 polls were no exception. As is so often the case, international and regional missions deployed large numbers of election observers. What is more remarkable is the proliferation of domestic observation missions during this closely fought election. Drawing on Kenya-based fieldwork at different points of the electoral cycle, this paper looks at the factors that motivate domestic organisations to apply for accreditation, and considers the quantity and the quality of the various observation initiatives that the IEBC granted permission to conduct observation. Amid an ongoing debate over the 'crisis' of international election observation, the findings contribute to the literature on the relative strengths and weaknesses of domestic observation initiatives.

Paper short abstract:

Citizen election observation is a worldwide phenomenon of great importance with a significant expression on the African continent. This paper conducts an exploratory and in-depth analysis of the motivation and agency of nonpartisan citizen election observation in post-war Angola and Mozambique.

Paper long abstract:

The observation of electoral processes by citizens is a worldwide phenomenon of great importance with a significant expression on the African continent. In response to the weaknesses of international/regional election observation, there are several citizen organizations in about 24 countries of the Sub-Saharan region that seek to monitor and promote election integrity, and citizens’ access to information in the electoral process. This paper conducts an exploratory and in-depth analysis of the motivation and agency of nonpartisan citizen election observation in Angola and Mozambique. The violent past and the political regimes with poor democratic credentials in these two post-civil war countries have not prevented citizens from mobilizing proactively for election integrity and transparency. The research seeks to explore what motivates citizens to engage in electoral observation initiatives, which observation tools they use, including digital ones, their discourse on democracy and credible electoral processes, and how divergent the election assessment reports made by the citizen election observation organizations and those from the international/regional election observation. Empirical data from Angola and Mozambique’s civil society organizations (CSOs) which undertook actions of electoral observation, as well as from officials of national and international electoral monitoring bodies since the transition to multipartism will be collected. The analysis hopes to contribute to the research not only on the present and future state of the election observation in Africa but also on the relationship between democracy and citizenship in contemporary Southern African states at the height of election processes.

Paper short abstract:

Nigeria's 2023 general elections process provides an interesting glimpse into a future of more domestic and civil society-led election observations, which utilise a stronger nuanced understanding of domestic politics to provide accountability where external missions were often limited and unable to

Paper long abstract:

Election observation missions have become a permanent fixture in African elections, with the statements and reports of these organisations playing a major role in legitimising or questioning the outcome and the process as a whole. Yet, there are factors affecting the efficacy of these observation structures. Donor agencies are increasingly cash-strapped and forced to prioritise other means to support Africa’s civic development, which has led to less funding and less sufficient preparation before elections. Election missions are also largely constricted to the established metropoles, due to rising demographic clashes, which leads to a half-baked and ultimately flawed understanding of the challenges in the election space.

However, where foreign observation missions are failing, domestic structures are rising. Civil society organisations are collaborating and leveraging nuanced understandings to inform the election observation process. Citizens and civic-minded groups are also leveraging technology, social media, fact-checking and general accountability innovations. There are also conscious civic education projects to ensure better understanding of electoral processes, especially where there are new additions to the law.

Using the Nigerian 2023 general elections as a case study, this paper will look at the impact that ongoing security concerns, unreliable polling data and an ethno-religious charged election landscape have had in limiting the efficacy of external election observation interventions. It will also look at the innovations that civil societies employed in the run-up to the elections and will assess if such templates are applicable in the West African region and the continent at large.

Paper short abstract:

Since 2002, Somaliland has held a series of elections and external donors have found ways to support both domestic and international observation while denying recognition of the polity itself. This paper considers the implications for the practice of election observation in Somaliland.

Paper long abstract:

Somaliland has established a notable system of representative elections, notwithstanding a persistent pattern of electoral delay. In spite of the lack of sovereign international recognition, members of the international community have consistently found ways to support both domestic and international election observation while denying formal recognition of the polity itself. This paper considers the implications of that context for the practice of observation in Somaliland. Specifically, external parties have tended to channel funds and non-financial input into electoral processes through non-traditional channels. For example, domestic observation has been supported through unusual arrangements with civil society partners that have arguably had variable results - some positive; some negative. International observation, similarly, has required donor engagement with non-traditional international observation partners, notably the UK university that the proposer of this panel works for and under whose auspices he has led international observation missions. The paper will explore some of the implications these arrangements have had for election observation in Somaliland.