2.3. The Constitutive Act of the African Union, 2002 (The Constitutive Act):
Under the Constitutive Act, the African States have committed to promote democratic
principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance. This also
includes promoting and protecting human rights in accordance with the African Charter
on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and other relevant human rights instruments.
2.4. The African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Good Governance, 2007:
Under this Charter, the African Union Partner States commit to:
i.
Promote adherence, by each partner state, to the universal values and
principles of democracy and respect for human rights;
ii.
Promote the holding of regular free and fair elections to institutionalize
legitimate authority of representative government as well as democratic change
of government; Promote the establishment of the necessary conditions to foster
citizen participation, transparency, access to information, freedom of the press,
and accountability in the management of public affairs;
iii.
Promote best practices in the management of elections for purposes of political
stability and good governance.
2.5. African Union Declaration on Principles Governing Democratic Elections in
Africa (2002):
These principles provide that democratic elections should be conducted freely and
fairly, under democratic constitutions and in compliance with supportive legal
instruments. Elections should be held at regular intervals, as provided for in national
constitutions by impartial, all-inclusive competent accountable electoral institutions
staffed by well trained personnel and equipped with adequate logistics.
2.6. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948:
The Declaration recognizes that everyone has the right to take part in the government
of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. It further provides
that: “The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this shall
be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal
suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures”
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