By Giyo Ndzi
In 2019, a presidential election in a Central African country saw accusations of voter suppression, ballot stuffing, and disrespect of electoral processes at polling stations. There were widespread claims of electoral malpractices, and the authorities used the forces of law and order to crack down on opposition supporters who took to the streets to decry the October 2018 voting process and results.
It’s a familiar scenario, right? This experience occurs quite frequently across the African continent, where election monitoring often faces government resistance or interference.
When ballots are cast, the governments’ fear of what lies beneath often overshadows the promise of democracy, and the transparency of this process can only be guaranteed by transparent monitoring. For years now, the increasing strength and influence of the internet and social media have given electoral monitoring processes a new look. As we look toward the 2025 elections in countries like Cameroon, Gabon, and Cote d’Ivoire, the role of digital technologies in transforming election monitoring has never been more critical.
For governments that thrive on unchecked power and lack of accountability, election monitoring is an existential threat as it has the ability to expose their tactics to manipulate electoral processes. In countries like Cameroon, where the opposition often claims irregularities during elections, voices of monitoring bodies are often drowned out in cases where their opinions don’t align with the government’s. In 2018, the government also came under criticism for giving access to a team that reportedly usurped identities of Transparency International to monitor an election. In other countries such as Uganda, resistance to election monitoring has also been reported.
Beyond exposing fraud, governments often fear losing control over how elections are perceived—both domestically and internationally. The role of international observers and media in amplifying irregularities has made governments wary of hosting such efforts. As seen in the aftermath of controversial elections across Africa, the narrative can shift dramatically when monitoring exposes unfair practices.Safe to say, election monitoring is the bogeyman for these governments.
Going virtual: The role of digital technologies in transforming election monitoring
The advent of digital technologies has provided more efficient, safer and comprehensive avenues for monitoring. This rapid shift which gets broader by the day, has continued to move the balance of power from the hands of governments and institutions. Today, citizens are getting a fair share of the ability to monitor and report on electoral processes in record time with their electronic devices.
The emergence of platforms like Ripoti now allows citizens to report irregularities in real-time, with a focus on the protection of digital rights and enhancing inclusion. From hinterlands to the big cities, technology has turned every citizen into a watchdog with real-time reporting tools and intervention.
Social Media which is the more popular component of tech and the internet has turned happenings such as elections into live, unfiltered broadcasts. Despite having its own concerns such as unverified information and misinformation, social media platforms have demystified the monitoring and reporting of electoral events more than ever. Then there is the newest kid on the block, Artificial intelligence (AI), which can also be leveraged to detect fraud patterns, such as unusual voting trends or duplicate voter entries.
Countries like Ghana have demonstrated how digital tools can significantly improve electoral transparency and participation across the board. The country’s use of electronic voting systems and digital monitoring platforms during its elections has contributed to the credibility of its electoral processes and a valuable example for African countries to adopt in their quest for free and fair elections.
Looking forward, it is common reasoning that any well-intended society should invest in tech-based solutions to not only counter negative election practices, but also enhance transparency and fairness in the process. A shared responsibility between all actors including governments, civil society and activists, their involvement guarantees deep understanding of local contexts.
Another key component for beefing up election monitoring transparency would be digital literacy. Educational initiatives such as Paradigm Initiative’s LIFE Legacy programme continue to bear fruits, impacting hundreds of thousands of youth across the continent. Empowering citizens with the skills and tools needed to contribute effectively to the monitoring process is giving a voice to all stakeholders, and breaking the class and role barriers. For digital tools to empower, the gap between access and literacy must first be bridged.
Like the proverb goes, ‘one hand cannot tie a bundle.’ In the same way, left alone, one entity alone cannot monitor an election. In this digital age, collaboration is the new competition, and is necessary to establish robust guidelines for digital election monitoring. Trust-governed collaborations between governments, civil society, and election monitoring bodies is crucial. Governments need to get past the thought of election monitoring being a threat and appreciate the importance of independent oversight in maintaining electoral integrity.
Empowering voters and organisations to monitor elections digitally starts with teaching them how to use the tools of transparency. But it definitely does not end there. For these tools to be used to maximum capacity, all stakeholders have to embrace them as part of their commitment to democratic principles and electoral integrity. While this is common knowledge and stakeholders would always profess the desire to do so, the taste of the pudding they say, lies in the eating. As over 16 different African nations go to the polls this year, the world is watching, waiting to get a taste of their pudding.
The Writer is a Communications Officer at Paradigm Initiative