The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) has commended Morocco for co-organizing the first specialized training workshop for AU short-term election observers in Rabat last June.
The PSC also encouraged the AU Commission and the Kingdom to continue co-organizing similar training on a regular basis and to mobilize the necessary financial and technical resources.
The PSC "commends the Kingdom of Morocco and the Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) Department for co-organizing the 1st specialized training workshop of African Union short-term election observers from June 13 to 17 2022, in Rabat, Morocco, to enhance AU's capacity to observe elections in Africa. It encourages, in this regard, the Commission and the Kingdom of Morocco to continue co-organizing similar training on a regular basis and to mobilize the necessary financial and technical resources," reads a statement adopted by the Council at the end of a meeting on the report of the Chairperson of the AU Commission on elections in Africa.
The Council also commended the Chairperson of the Commission for the comprehensive report on elections in Africa, covering the period from January to June 2022, as well as the prospects for the elections to be held during the period from July to December 2022.
The PSC further commended the AU Commission for its support to the organization of peaceful, credible, transparent, and democratic elections on the continent through the continued provision of technical assistance to member states and the deployment of electoral observation and preventive diplomacy teams in conflict-prone environments.
It also requested the AU Commission to intensify its resource mobilization efforts to support electoral processes more efficiently, particularly through the rapid deployment of sufficient electoral observers to Member States holding elections, especially in countries undergoing political transition.
The Council encouraged Member States to continue creating favorable conditions that encourage more women, youth and persons with disabilities to actively participate in political processes, notably in elections, including by strictly enforcing quota systems and reducing the costs of standing for election.
The PC stressed the need for the AU Commission to continue strengthening synergies with the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms, to instill a culture of peace, democracy, political pluralism, constructive management of diversity and tolerance in the continent, particularly with regard to elections.
