Mawusi Dumenu

[International IDEA Africa & West Asia @IDEA_Africa]

Day 3 of the New Commissioners’ Orientation Programme commenced with a reflective session facilitated by Hilda B. Modisane, Executive Secretary of ECF-SADC.

Participants shared the values and goals that guide their leadership, highlighting transparency, trust-building, independent Electoral Management Bodies, respect for stakeholders, and the importance of maintaining professional conduct.

They also emphasized leadership grounded in integrity as a cornerstone of credible, inclusive, and democratic electoral processes.

The programme is organised by @theECFSADC & @Int_IDEA, hosted by @IECSouthAfrica, and co-funded by the @EUtoAU through the SPEC Project.

[International IDEA Africa & West Asia @IDEA_Africa]

On Day 2 of the NCO Programme happening in 🇿🇦, Vera Muring, Programme Officer, Electoral Processes at @Int_IDEA, unpacked Electoral Cycle concepts, Calendars, and Planning, highlighting emerging practices and lessons.
Newly appointed Commissioners from SADC countries collaborated in developing electoral cycles, identifying challenges, and discussing key activities required throughout the electoral cycle to ensure credible, inclusive, and well-managed elections.

The programme is organised by @theECFSADC & @Int_IDEA, hosted by @IECSouthAfrica, and co-funded by the @EUtoAU through the SPEC Project.

@muringvera
#NCO2026

[International IDEA Africa & West Asia @IDEA_Africa]

So, we did a thing in South Africa. 

🎉🥳 it’s official, the Secretary General, Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora officially launched the Africa and West Asia regional office in Pretoria South Africa.  

The launch brought together senior government officials, diplomatic representatives, civil society leaders, and development partners from across Africa and West Asia to mark a defining moment in International IDEA's institutional presence on the continent.

The AWA Regional Office serves as the hub for our democracy support work across the region, working alongside parliaments, electoral institutions, judicial bodies, civil society actors, grassroots organisations, and pro-democracy movements to build inclusive and resilient democracies.

From Nigeria to Kenya, Mozambique to Tunisia, Lesotho to Sierra Leone, the work continues, now with a new regional home.

Congratulations to us. Congratulations to the AWA team.

[International IDEA Africa & West Asia @IDEA_Africa]

Interesting statistics from the recently published State of Democracy Assessment in Sierra Leone, hardly discussed by policy and development leaders, indicate:
Only 2% of Sierra Leone's elected MPs are under 30 years, even though young people constitute nearly 40% of the country’s population.

Is it because the estimated cost of running a public office is USD 20,000 before campaigning, rallies and logistics? This is not just a barrier but a wall for the effective participation of young people in political and public life.

The State of Democracy in Sierra Leone 2025 Report documents what participation looks like in practice beyond the headline voter turnout figures

Read it here: https://t.co/8YTBUhis7U

#SierraLeone #YouthInPolitics #Democracy #Governance #Representation #AfricaDemocracy

[Mawusi Dumenu @m_dumenu]

Indeed, we had very insightful discussions.

[Idriss Mamoud Tarawallie (PhD) @pamamoud]

@IDEA_Africa’s regional Head of Programs Gram Matenga and Tonderai mazingaizo- AWA Head of Finance and Admin, paid a courtesy visit to the @EUinSierraLeone and met with the team from the political democratic governance unit during in field visit to Sierra Leone.

[Mawusi Dumenu @m_dumenu]

I had a good time engaging with staff of NEBE on electoral risk identification, and hiw that can be contextualized for the Ethiopian context.

[International IDEA Africa & West Asia @IDEA_Africa]

Day 2 of the ToT for the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) opened with discussions on electoral risk identification, categorisation, and mapping, aimed at strengthening staff capacity to apply Protecting Elections and Electoral Risk Management methodologies ahead of the upcoming Ethiopian election. Supported by the EU-funded SPEC Project.

@NEBEthiopia @EUtoAU @AUC_PAPS

[International IDEA Africa & West Asia @IDEA_Africa]

With support from International IDEA & funding from the European Union, the National Commission for Democracy has launched the State of Democracy Report amplifying the voices of citizens, CSOs, academia & state actors.
#StateOfDemocracy #EU #OneSierraLeone

[International IDEA Africa & West Asia @IDEA_Africa]

#GSoD2025: Migration challenges democracies—not because it's inherently destabilizing, but because it forces us to ask what belonging means and whether the boundaries of the democratic polity need to be reimagined.

Follow our global launch event LIVE: https://t.co/USZlQWjhxs

[International IDEA Africa & West Asia @IDEA_Africa]

🔴 We are LIVE from Stockholm! Tune in for the Global Launch of @int_idea's #GSoD2025 Report that offers evidence-based trend analysis and lessons from across the world, highlighting where democratic resilience remains. #DemocracyForAll
https://t.co/CMwDD1Cm9W

[CDD-Ghana @CDDGha]

Recent clashes in Gbenyiri, in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District, Savanna Region, over renewed chieftaincy clashes fueled by land disputes, have reportedly left nine dead and 29 injured, with dozens fleeing to neighbouring Ivory Coast for safety.

In many cases, such as this clash, the dispute is said to have escalated after the involvement of landguards.

According to a 2020 CDD-Ghana report on political vigilantism, in a bid to survive, some groups operate as "professional vigilantes," offering their services to the highest bidder during community conflicts, power struggles among individuals, and land disputes, regardless of the location.

Read the full research report, including the policy recommendations, here: https://t.co/wVUbWsgef5

#PoliticalVigilantism #Landguards #conflict

[International IDEA Africa & West Asia @IDEA_Africa]

The Stakeholders’ Workshop on Mapping Electoral Risks is underway in Lilongwe, organized by @AUC_PAPS with technical support from @Int_IDEA & via @EUtoAU funded SPEC project. Key national actors are presenting on Malawi’s pre-election context, incl. MEC, MPS, CMD, MESN, NICE...

[International IDEA Africa & West Asia @IDEA_Africa]

At #AU_RECsOnElection, EMBs from African countries heading to the polls in 2025 - 26 are identifying key technical assistance needs: Voter registration updates, media capacity building, civic & voter education, results management... Funded by @EUtoAU through the SPEC Project.

[International IDEA Africa & West Asia @IDEA_Africa]

🧵3/3: Dr. @pamamoud reiterated that the essence of the European Union 🇪🇺(the donor) in such a process, is to promote #democratic strengthening in 🇸🇱, a commitment which is consistent with @Int_IDEA mandate & vision. @GovernanceFor @ncd_sl

[International IDEA Africa & West Asia @IDEA_Africa]

🧵2/3: Dr. @pamamoud opined that the findings of the study should contribute to democratic strengthening as envisaged by the #TripartiteCommittee. @oliveaseno @Benignajimba

[International IDEA Africa & West Asia @IDEA_Africa]

🧵1/3: Dr. @pamamoud, the Head of Programme #SierraLeone 🇸🇱 at @Int_IDEA, emphasized that the State of Democracy (SoD) Assessment framework training in 🇸🇱 was significant to the recommendations of the #TripartiteCommittee on #electoral systems & processes reform. @Drsharamo

[International IDEA Africa & West Asia @IDEA_Africa]

🧵1/2: @int_IDEA’s #Democracy Assessment team will kick off a 2-day training in 🇸🇱 on the #StateofDemocracy assessment framework for @GovernanceFor & its data collectors, as well as members of @ncd_sl & the assessment’s technical sub-committee. Read🔗https://t.co/0PWdeEXndd.

[Idriss Mamoud Tarawallie (PhD) @pamamoud]

We @Int_IDEA had a productive meeting today with @sesayalpha the AG & Justice Minister in furtherance of our conversation to support the implementation of the TC Recommendations under our @EUinSierraLeone funded Democracy Strengthening program @Drsharamo @Benignajimba

[Mawusi Dumenu @m_dumenu]

@Magic__Wood Congrats Mr. Wood

[CODEO @CodeoElections]

As at 10:00 AM today, #CODEOObservers had reported and confirmed 228 incidents during the opening, voting, & counting stages of the polling process across the country.

Find out more in this Preliminary Statement on Ghana's Dec. 7 Elections: https://t.co/nxT2hBgXZP

[Nic Cheeseman @Fromagehomme]

As Mauritius goes to the polls (on Sunday), DiA brings you another piece that looks at the some of the key "red flags" about the country's electoral process.

"As the country goes to the polls, one should be cognisant that the latest IIAG index indicates that the holding of ‘democratic elections’ in Mauritius has known a -22.6 % drop in the last ten years and is currently ranked 14th out of 53 countries. The African Insights 2024 Report points in a similar direction where in the last decade there has been a drop from 83 % to 53% of Mauritian respondents who believe that elections held in that time frame were “completely free and fair/free and fair with minor problems”."

We will be keeping our eyes peeled ... will you? 👀

https://t.co/dLpefXSaqf