ECOWAS, International IDEA Lead Charge Against Digital Technology Threats to Electoral Integrity in West Africa.
By Raymond Enoch.
Democratic institutions are under pressure to respond with stronger safeguards and reforms.
Regional collaboration is now key to protecting the credibility of the electoral process.The future of democracy in West Africa hinges on securing free, fair, and trusted elections
In this wise and in a decisive move to combat rising digital threats to democratic processes, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in collaboration with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), hosted a high-level regional workshop in Abuja from August 27 to 28, 2025.
The event, themed “Protecting Elections in the Information Environment,” was organized in partnership with the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) and funded by the European Union through the Strengthening Pan-African Capacities for Electoral Observation and Assistance (SPEC) project.
Electoral Management Bodies, regional organizations, and electoral networks from ten West African countries joined international partners to confront the escalating challenges posed by disinformation, misinformation, and information manipulation in electoral contexts.
The two-day workshop served as a platform to share innovative strategies, experiences, and collaborative frameworks aimed at defending electoral integrity in the digital age. Discussions focused on enhancing regional cooperation, reinforcing public trust in electoral systems, and improving institutional resilience against digital interference.
“This initiative is critical to ensuring that elections in the region remain credible, inclusive, and resistant to the corrosive effects of false information,” said a representative of International IDEA. The event is part of the institute’s broader global project on electoral integrity in the digital era, supported by the German Federal Foreign Office.
As electoral processes across Africa become increasingly digitized, the workshop marks a significant step in fortifying the region’s democratic infrastructure against evolving cyber and information threats.
