Previously last week, on the fifth day of the Executive Peer Learning Mission of the Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA), participants spent the day at Luiss Guido Carli University, focusing in governance, regulation, and the strategic roadmap for safeguarding electoral integrity in the digital era.
The mission brought together Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) from countries participating in Italy’s Piano Mattei initiative, alongside continental and regional electoral networks from Central, Eastern, Southern and Western Africa, creating a unique platform for peer learning and exchange on the future of electoral governance and integrity.
Hosted by Luiss Guido Carli University, one of Italy’s leading academic institutions in the fields of international relations, law, governance, and emerging technologies, the day featured a series of high-level discussions and academic exchanges focused on the regulatory, ethical, and governance dimensions of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in electoral processes. Bringing together renowned professors and experts specialised in AI governance, cyberlaw, data protection, and electoral integrity, the sessions provided participants with an opportunity to reflect on the challenges and opportunities posed by digital transformation for democratic institutions and Electoral Management Bodies across Africa.
The sessions featured contributions from:
- Professor Raffaele Marchetti - Deputy Rector for Internationalisation and Professor of International Relations at LUISS Guido Carli University
- Professor Eugenio Prosperetti - Adjunct Professor of IT law, data law, and cyberlaw at LUISS Guido Carli University
- Professor Filiberto Brozzetti - Assistant Professor of Artificial Intelligence, Law and Ethics at LUISS Guido Carli University
with sessions facilitated by Filiberto Ceriani Sebregondi and Fabio Bargiacchi.
Discussions focused on:
- AI governance and international regulatory frameworks
- data protection and electoral integrity standards
- transparency and accountability in the use of AI in elections
- ethical safeguards, oversight mechanisms, and the fight against deepfakes in political campaigns.
The mission concluded with closing remarks by:
- Fabio Bargiacchi, Founder and Executive Director of ECES
- Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of the Republic of Ghana and President of the AAEA, who also presented the new website of the AAEA, showcasing the Association, its members, and the missions and activities carried out in recent years across the continent
- Marco Massoni, Professor of African Politics and Society at Luiss Guido Carli University in Rome
Implemented by the African Union Commission and ECES with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. We are deeply grateful to the Italian authorities and institutions for making this important initiative possible and for their continuous support to electoral integrity, democratic resilience, and international cooperation.
