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African election observers must strengthen their independence, professionalism and use of evidence to protect the credibility of electoral processes amid growing challenges posed by misinformation, political polarisation and emerging technologies, Deputy Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Minister James Kinyasi Millya has said.
Mr Millya made the call on October 11, 2026, during the opening of African Union (AU) refresher training for core and support team experts, alongside women and youth serving as short-term election observers, in Dar es Salaam.
He said credible election observation was essential to strengthening democracy, peace and stability across the continent, urging participants to base their assessments on verifiable facts rather than political interests or personal opinions.
The training brings together election observation personnel to reinforce the standards and skills required to monitor electoral processes professionally and impartially.
“Election observers must uphold integrity, independence and professionalism, ensuring that their assessments are grounded in facts and reliable evidence,” he said.
Mr Millya said rapid advances in technology, artificial intelligence and social media were reshaping electoral processes, presenting new demands for those responsible for monitoring elections.
He warned that misinformation, disinformation and political divisions could complicate the assessment of elections, making it necessary for observers to update their skills and adopt approaches suited to the changing political and technological environment.
The challenge, he said, was to ensure that election observation remained credible and contributed to public confidence in democratic institutions.
Mr Millya also called for greater participation of women and young people in democratic governance, describing the AU initiative as an opportunity to build a more representative and inclusive pool of African election observers.
He said expanding their participation was important not only for election monitoring but also for ensuring that women’s and young people’s perspectives were reflected in democratic processes across the continent.
The Deputy Minister reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment, under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, to advancing the participation of women and youth in African integration, peace and security, and trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He said Tanzania would continue supporting democratic governance and continental cooperation, urging participants to apply the knowledge gained during the training to promote peaceful, credible and inclusive elections.
The call comes as African countries continue to navigate electoral challenges that require public trust, impartial institutions and effective mechanisms for resolving political disputes.
For election observation to contribute meaningfully to democratic stability, Mr Millya said, observers must maintain professional standards and ensure their findings are supported by credible evidence.