“In order to preserve the hard-won democratic gains of the last three decades in Africa, it is vital to ensure that free, fair, peaceful, democratic and credible elections are guaranteed”, underlined the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to the AU and the ECA-UN, Mohamed Arrouchi, during a meeting of the PSC devoted to the examination of the report on the organization and conduct of elections in Africa.
To do this, “our delegation firmly believes that actions in favor of participatory, transparent and open elections must be carried out and encouraged in order to establish political governance and electoral democracy on the continent, in accordance with the strategic objectives set out by the Agenda 2063,” added the Moroccan diplomat.
One of the key actions to be carried out in this direction is the observation of elections, which constitutes an essential tool in the success of the electoral process, pointed out Mr. Arrouchi, adding that it is not only a question of combating fraud and rectify the errors noted, but it is above all a question of preserving the legitimacy and credibility of the electoral process.
It is in this spirit that the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) co-organized with the Kingdom of Morocco the 1st Specialized Training Workshop for AU Short-Term Election Observers, in June 2022 in Rabat, in order to strengthen the AU’s capacity to observe elections in Africa, recalled the Moroccan diplomat.
This training, initiated and organized for the first time by an AU Member State, reflects Morocco’s firm will, in accordance with the High Guidelines of King Mohammed VI, to contribute effectively to building the capacities of the AU, particularly in terms of political governance and electoral democracy, Mr. Arrouchi stressed.
The Moroccan diplomat reaffirmed on this occasion the commitment of the Kingdom to continue to develop the capacities of our continent in order to build, together, a new vision on our common future towards the Africa that we want and to support all the measures aimed at to enshrine democratic practices in Africa.
