A number of phases in election processes provide entry points that allow for interventions to resolve, mitigate or obviate election-related conflicts. This paper, published by The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, discusses election-related conflicts in Africa and recommends mechanisms that could enhance election mediation efforts. The African Union should reinforce the role and deployment of ‘Councils of the Wise’ as a tool of preventive diplomacy in elections on the continent.
Many recent conflicts in Africa were ignited by flawed or failed elections which precipitated political disputes and resulted in open conflict. Mediation challenges in such disputes include how to revive political will, ensure citizen participation and respect both state sovereignty and universal conflict prevention principles.
Election processes provide phases, or entry points, for mediation efforts, including pre-election review of and appropriate changes to the legal framework for elections to ensure a non-partisan approach. Phases also include safe political access for candidates and voters during campaigns, strict adherence to vote counting rules on election day and managing grievances after elections.
The following impediments often hamper mediation efforts:
- There is a scarcity of nonpartisan domestic actors. It is often difficult to find credible individuals with the power to convene who have not taken sides in the country’s internal politics.
- Most incumbent governments are reluctant to admit the existence of tensions or the prospects of failed elections in their home country. This makes it difficult for external actors to intervene, either in the pre-election or immediate post-election period.
- While the potential for complementarities between election observation missions and mediation efforts exists, there is often a lack of synergy between them. Potential conflicts of interest between mediators and election observers are allowed to develop that damage the conflict-prevention process.
- Security sector reform is crucial in countries emerging from armed conflict and/or undergoing major political transitions. However, the timing of reforms such as disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) are not considered against the election calendar. This can result in elections being held in highly volatile political environments.
- Governments facing the potential for election-related conflict generally lack pre-set mediation objectives. They are unable or unwilling to conduct a pre-election process to identify possible solutions to resolve conflicts before the election season begins.
The African Union should reinforce use of “Councils of the Wise” in elections around the continent. Other recommendations include:
- Foster independent election bodies to minimise partisan management of elections.
- Encourage inter-party committees to facilitate communication.
- Encourage self-regulatory codes of conduct by political parties.
- Guarantee rule of law and independence of the judiciary to enhance redress of electoral grievances.
- Enact media laws guaranteeing media access.
- Encourage civil society to support local level election mediation.
- Enable non-partisan civic and voter education.
- Support greater communication and synergy between external actors.
- Encourage domestic and international organisations to conduct non-partisan election monitoring.
