Following the successful conclusion of the 10th Annual Continental Forum of Election Management Bodies (EMBs), members of the Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA) convened in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on 8 July 2026 for the 13th General Assembly of the AAEA.
The General Assembly brought together representatives of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) from across the African continent to review the Association's activities, assess progress made over the past year, strengthen institutional cooperation and discuss strategic priorities for the future of electoral governance in Africa.
The General Assembly opened with remarks by Jean Mensa, President of the AAEA and Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana; Ambassador Calixte Mbari, Head of the Democracy, Elections and Constitutionalism Division at the African Union Commission's Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (DPAPS); and Fabio Bargiacchi, Founder and Executive Director of the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES)
In her opening remarks, President Jean Mensa welcomed delegates and reaffirmed the Association's commitment to promoting cooperation, peer learning and the exchange of experiences among African EMBs. She highlighted the importance of the General Assembly as the Association's principal decision-making body and as a platform for reinforcing collaboration in support of credible, inclusive and resilient electoral processes across the continent.
Throughout the morning, members reviewed and adopted the minutes of the 12th AAEA General Assembly, before receiving the President's Year in Review, presented by Jean Mensa, which highlighted the Association's achievements, activities and progress over the past year. Members also examined and approved the AAEA Financial Statement, reflecting the Association's continued commitment to transparency, accountability and sound financial management.
The General Assembly also received regional reports from the Association's five geographical regions, presented respectively by representatives of Central Africa (Democratic Republic of the Congo), East Africa (Kenya), West Africa (Benin), Southern Africa (Zambia) and North Africa (Tunisia). These presentations provided an opportunity to review recent developments, share regional priorities and strengthen coordination among Election Management Bodies across Africa.
The programme further included a presentation by the African Union Commission on its technical assistance to Election Management Bodies, highlighting ongoing efforts to support electoral institutions across the continent and strengthen the implementation of the African Union's electoral assistance mandate.
Recognising the growing impact of emerging technologies on electoral processes, the General Assembly also featured a presentation by Fabio Bargiacchi and Granville Abrahams of the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) on "The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cybersecurity in Election Management." The presentation explored both the opportunities and the challenges that technological innovation presents for Election Management Bodies, emphasising the importance of safeguarding electoral integrity, strengthening resilience against cyber threats and ensuring the responsible use of artificial intelligence in electoral administration.
Participants also benefited from a comparative international perspective through a presentation by Judge Paulo Tarso Tamburini, President of the Regional Electoral Tribunal of Minas Gerais and Special Adviser to Brazil's Superior Electoral Court on Security Issues, entitled "Brazil's Electronic Voting System: Three Decades of Innovation, Integrity and Public Trust." Drawing on Brazil's extensive experience, the presentation highlighted lessons on technological innovation, electoral security and public confidence that may inform future developments within African electoral systems.
The General Assembly concluded with closing remarks by President Jean Mensa, who reaffirmed the Association's commitment to strengthening solidarity, cooperation and peer learning among African EMBs. She emphasised that the AAEA will continue to serve as the continent's leading platform for collaboration, enabling members to exchange experiences, address common challenges and promote African-led solutions that reinforce democratic governance and electoral integrity.
The 13th General Assembly reaffirmed the AAEA's central role in promoting institutional cooperation among Africa's Election Management Bodies and further demonstrated the shared commitment of its members to advancing credible, inclusive, transparent and resilient electoral processes in line with the principles of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG)
