On 8 June 2023 from 14:00-15:30 PM CET, at the backdrop of the commemoration of the 60th year anniversary of OAU/AU, ECDPM in partnership with the Charter Project Africa are hosting a webinar on digital transformation and political governance in Africa.

Information communication technologies (ICTs) have become imperative for governments to deliver basic services to their citizens. Access to online tools has provided alternatives to challenges of offline political mobilisation. While ICTs have facilitated access to information,  digital technologies have also drastically transformed politics including political campaigns and electoral processes, with ambiguous impact.  Governments across Africa have set up very different responses to challenges around misinformation, hate speech, and data governance. But some of these legislative measures have also been used to clamp down on political opposition,  journalists, and civil society organisations who challenge incumbents or specific government policies. At the continental level, the African Charter on Democracy, Election and Governance (ACDEG), also known as the African Governance Charter, serves as a blueprint for Africa’s governance agenda. However, having been adopted in 2007,  it doesn't address the prospects and challenges brought about by digitalisation. 

The discussion will draw from ECDPM's research on digitalisation and democracy.

Please find here our report: Digitalisation and Democracy: is the AU fit for the digital era. Speakers: Toyin Akinniyi, Director-Africa, Luminate   Ambassador Salah S. Hammad,  Head of the Secretariat of AGA-APSA, African Union Ibraheem Sanusi,  Head of Project, GIZ African Union Office 

Presenter: Ennatu Domingo, Policy Officer, Digital Economy and Governance, ECDPM 

Moderator: Lidet Tadesse, Associate Director, Peaceful Societies and Accountable Governance, ECDPM

Interpretation in French will be available for this event.

This event is co-funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Charter Project Africa and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.