The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 85th Ordinary Session, held from 07 to 30th October 2025 in Banjul, the Republic of The Gambia;
RECALLING its mandate to promote and protect human rights in Africa under Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter);
NOTING that Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights confers citizens the right to participate freely in the affairs of government, either directly or through freely chosen representatives in accordance with the provisions of the law;
INSPIRED by the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance, which underscores the significance of African States’ adherence to universal democratic values, respect for human rights, and the promotion of regular, free, and fair elections that institutionalize legitimate governance and facilitate democratic change;
CONCERNED by the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government (UCG) and military coups, undermining electoral democracy and contributing to insecurity, conflict, and developmental stagnation across Africa;
FURTHER CONCERNED by continental trends on decreased voter turnout during general elections, shrinking civic space during electoral campaign periods and the violation of various human and peoples’ rights prior to, during and in the aftermath of elections;
COGNIZANT of the need to strengthen the integrity, independence and public confidence of electoral management bodies (EMBs) by enhancing stakeholder consultations and transparency procedures in their appointment;
AWARE of the concerning influence of illicit funds in electoral processes and the need for improved regulations on financing of political campaigns and related processes;
APPRECIATING the crucial role played by citizen observers in providing oversight and accountability in electoral processes through election observation and monitoring across the continent;
REAFFIRMING its belief and recognition that electoral democracy and rule of law cannot be consolidated on the African continent without the cultivation of an open and safe civic space that facilitates citizen participation, either individually or through civic organizations and political groupings;
The Commission calls on States parties to:
1. Universally ratify, domesticate and implement the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance as a shared values instrument that demonstrates their collective commitment to electoral integrity and democratic governance.
2. Strengthen the independence of Election Management Bodies and Political Party Regulators by guaranteeing transparency in the appointment of officials that manage them, ensuring security of tenure, and providing adequate funding for their functions.
3. Embrace and legislate for a more open civic space including in the digital sphere, and expunge restrictive laws that hinder freedom of assembly, association, and expression, which are critical to robust political participation.
4. Reform the laws and policies governing election observation to ensure that the accreditation processes for citizen electoral observers are not unduly burdensome, expensive, or restrictive but instead foster inclusivity and bolster the integrity of electoral processes through civilian oversight.
5. Strengthen their judiciaries by providing adequate funding, resources, and guarantees of independence, especially in timely adjudication of electoral disputes.
6. Enact and strengthen the legal and institutional frameworks governing the financing of political parties and electoral campaigns, with particular focus on transparency, and accountability in the management and use of public funds allocated.
Done in Banjul, The Gambia, 30 October 2025
