Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (September 7, 2023) – Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Alvin Botes has concluded his visit to the African Union (AU) in Ethiopia, where he participated in the Validation Workshop of the Principles and Guidelines on the Use of Digital and Social Media in Elections in Africa.
The workshop was organized by the AU’s Electoral Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA). It aimed to finalize the principles and guidelines, which are intended to help governments and electoral management bodies in Africa use digital and social media in a way that safeguards electoral integrity and prevents the spread of disinformation.
In his speech at the workshop, Botes affirmed South Africa’s support for the principles and guidelines. He said that it is important for governments and electoral management bodies to use digital and social media to inform and empower young people, given that Africa has a youthful population.
“The youth are the future of our continent, and we need to ensure that they have access to accurate information about the electoral process,” said Botes. “Digital and social media can play a vital role in this, but it is important to use these platforms responsibly and to guard against the spread of disinformation.”
The principles and guidelines are expected to be adopted by the AAEA General Assembly in November 2023.
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