From 6 to 7 July 2026, the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), together with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA), supported the organisation of the 10th Annual Continental Forum of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, within the framework of the PRO-Electoral Integrity Project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI). The Forum brought together the overwhelming majority of Africa's Election Management Bodies (EMBs), African regional electoral networks, representatives of the African Union Commission, international organisations and leading electoral experts to exchange experiences and identify practical solutions to strengthen electoral governance across the continent.
Convened under the theme "African Citizens Abroad (Diaspora) Voting: Progress, Gaps and Prospects," this year's Forum provided an opportunity to examine one of the most significant and evolving issues facing electoral management in Africa: ensuring the meaningful participation of citizens residing abroad while safeguarding electoral integrity, transparency and inclusiveness.
As one of the African Union's flagship electoral governance platforms, the Annual Continental Forum continues to promote peer learning, institutional cooperation and the exchange of good practices among African Election Management Bodies, contributing to the implementation of the principles African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG).
The Forum officially opened with remarks by Stefano De Leo, Central Director for Sub-Saharan African Countries at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Jean Mensa, President of the Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA) and Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana; Fabio Bargiacchi, Founder and Executive Director of the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES); Patience Zanelie Chiradza, Director of Governance and Conflict Prevention at the African Union Commission's Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (DPAPS); H.E. Ambassador Ali Drouiche Head of the African Union Permanent Delegation in Cairo and Counsellor Hazem Badawi, Chairperson of Egypt's National Elections Authority, representing the host country, The Arab Republic of Egypt.
Throughout the two-day programme, participants explored the legal, institutional, operational and political dimensions of diaspora voting through four thematic sessions addressing normative frameworks, implementation experiences, operational and logistical challenges, and future policy options for Election Management Bodies.
ECES contributed to the technical programme through the participation of Granville Abrahams, Senior Electoral Management Expert, who delivered a presentation on international good practices, implementation risks and practical approaches to out-of-country voting. The Forum also featured presentations by Ibrahim Turay of the African Union Commission's Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO), Olufunto Akinduro, Senior Advisor for Electoral Processes at the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and Skye Christensen of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Moldova Office, together with comparative experiences shared by Election Management Bodies from Cabo Verde, Tunisia, South Africa, Egypt, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Senegal.
The second day concluded with a solutions-oriented plenary discussion that culminated in the adoption of the Forum Communiqué and practical recommendations aimed at supporting African Election Management Bodies in strengthening diaspora voting arrangements. Closing remarks were delivered by Erastus Mwencha, former Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission and Member of the ECES Strategic and Advisory Committee; Stefano De Leo; and Patience Zanelie Chiradza, while the session was moderated by Ambassador Calixte Mbari, Head of the Democracy, Elections and Constitutionalism Division at DPAPS.
During the Forum, ECES also officially launched the 2026 edition of its flagship publication, Implementing a European Response to Electoral Cycle Support since 2010 – The Strategic Vision, Operational Architecture and Methodological Framework of ECES. The publication reflects sixteen years of implementation across more than 70 countries, including over 50 African countries, and encapsulates the experience gained through implementing more than €155 million in programmes supporting electoral integrity, democratic governance and institutional capacity development. It also presents ECES' latest methodological developments in areas including electoral leadership, conflict prevention, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and electoral resilience.
The Forum was followed by the 13th General Assembly of the Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA) on 8 July 2026, where ECES continued contributing to discussions on the future of electoral governance across Africa.
ECES extends its sincere appreciation to the African Union Commission, the Association of African Election Authorities, the National Elections Authority of Egypt, and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for their continued partnership and support through the PRO-Electoral Integrity Project, which continues to strengthen cooperation, innovation and institutional capacity among Election Management Bodies across Africa.
