From 1-5 November 2021 the AU Commission’s Department of Political Affairs Peace and Security (PAPS) and the Gambia National Youth Council jointly organised a ‘training of trainers’ capacity building workshop targeting the youth and civil society organisations, in Gambia’s capital, Banjul.

This came as Gambia prepared to hold presidential elections on 4th December 2021, and was an effort to foster electoral integrity and ultimately, the conduct of peaceful, democratic and credible elections.

Africa has made significant progress in institutionalising electoral democracy over the course of the past decade. This is reflected in a number of successful multiparty elections in most of AU member states.
The African Union contributes to electoral observation through the African Union Election Observation Missions, AUEOM. 

The objectives of the AUEOM are:

1. To provide an accurate and impartial reporting or assessment of the election, including the degree to which the conduct of the elections meets regional, continental and international standards for democratic elections;
2. To offer recommendations for improvement of future elections based on the findings; and
3. To demonstrate the AU’s interest to support AU member States’ elections and democratisation process, to ensure that the conduct of genuine elections contributes to the consolidation of democratic governance, peace and stability.

The AUEOM draws its mandate from various African Union instruments, most importantly: 

• the African Union Guidelines for Elections Observation and Monitoring Missions 
• the OAU/AU Declaration on Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa 
• the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and 
• the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. 

The observations of the AUEOM are based on the principles and standards for the conduct of democratic elections as enshrined in the aforementioned AU instruments.

Read more about the Gambia workshop at: https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20211102/tot-workshop-leaving-no-migrant-behind-support-au-member-states-report-agenda