Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Morocco

04/20/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/20/2026 10:55

5th AU Training Cycle for African Election Observers Kicks off in Rabat

Monday 20 April 2026
The 5th edition of the Training Cycle for African Election Observers of the African Union (AU) kicked off on Monday in Rabat, co-chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, and the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mr. Bankolé Adeoye, in the presence of the African diplomatic corps, among others.

This flagship program, recognized across Africa, marks a historic milestone by celebrating half a decade of strategic partnership between Morocco and the AU's Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS).

Jointly launched in 2022, this initiative has established itself as a key benchmark for strengthening electoral capacities and promoting transparent governance on the continent.

This cycle, which will continue until April 25, illustrates the Kingdom's constant commitment, in accordance with the enlightened Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, to a stable and democratic Africa, by consolidating the foundations for an inclusive and peaceful political dialogue.

True to an innovative approach, this year the program reaches an unprecedented milestone in terms of inclusion, with strong participation from women and youth. This progress ensures that African election observation serves as a faithful reflection of the diversity of African societies.

This year's training cycle also integrates an innovative awareness module on "deepfakes," focusing on digital elections, integrity, and training observers to detect AI-generated disinformation or "deepfake" materials regarding candidates, which are liable to be disseminated on election day to influence voters.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Morocco published this content on April 20, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 20, 2026 at 16:55 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]