African Union - Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit (DEAU)2019-09-252019-09-252015-08-062013http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12424/224740Since the early 1990s, when most African countries returned to multiparty rule, there has been exponential growth in elections in Africa. With the growth in elections has come the development and institutionalisation of election observation activities. In response to the democratic waves on the continent, the African Union (AU), a 54-member Pan-African organisation created in 2002 as a successor organisation to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), has developed norms intended to promote political participation, improve electoral standards and facilitate the consolidation of democracy in Member States. Thus the African Union’s Constitutive Act (2002), the OAU/AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa (2002), the Africa Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (2007), and the Guidelines for AU Electoral Observation and Monitoring Missions provide the benchmarks for the promotion of democratic elections.engWith permission of the license/copyright holderdemocracyelection observationelectoral processmonitoringhuman rightsprinciplesdemocratic electionselectionGlobal ethicsPolitical ethicsPreprint