Central African Civil Society Organisations Launch Regional Democracy Network in Accra

Accra, Ghana — September 24, 2026: Seven civil society organisations from across Central Africa have launched a new regional network aimed at strengthening democratic participation, electoral integrity and civic engagement in the region.

The Network of Civil Society Organisations for the Consolidation of Democracy in Central Africa (ROCiDAC) was officially launched in Accra on Thursday, September 24, during the third edition of the Electoral Integrity Summit.

The network brings together civil society organisations from Chad, Gabon, the Central African Republic, Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo.

ROCiDAC seeks to connect democratic actors across Central Africa and strengthen their collective voice in a region facing persistent governance challenges, prolonged presidential leadership and restrictions on civic space.

According to the network, despite these challenges, civil society organisations across Central Africa continue to organise, advocate and participate in public life.

It says connecting these organisations will help strengthen locally rooted democratic actors and ensure they are better positioned to monitor political developments and engage when opportunities for democratic reforms emerge.

Building a Regional Network

The initiative grew out of the AHEAD Africa project, which identified the limited visibility of Central African civil society actors in regional and international discussions on elections and democracy.

The project sought to challenge the perception that difficult political environments leave little room for democratic progress.

Instead, it focused on identifying organisations working for democratic accountability in their respective countries, creating platforms for their voices and strengthening cooperation among them.

The roots of ROCiDAC can be traced to the second edition of the Electoral Integrity Summit held in Lusaka, Zambia, in 2025, where discussions on building stronger connections among Central African democratic actors began to take shape.

The seven founding organisations are:

• MOCET – Mission d’observation citoyenne pour des élections transparentes, Gabon
• OAPET – Observatoire des associations sur le processus électoral au Tchad, Chad
• ADE – Actions for Development and Empowerment, Cameroon
• PAJED – Programme d’Assistance Juridique pour l’Égalité en Droit, Republic of Congo
• CEJP RDC – Commission Episcopale Justice & Paix République Démocratique du Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo
• CEJP Burundi – Commission Episcopale Justice & Paix Burundi, Burundi
• RAC – Réseau Arc-En-Ciel, Central African Republic

Some of the founding organisations are themselves national networks, bringing together several civil society groups in their respective countries.

ROCiDAC therefore builds on an existing community of domestic election observers and human rights defenders, many of whom have years of experience monitoring elections and democratic processes.

Linking Central Africa to Continental Election Observation

The new network also seeks to strengthen Central Africa’s links with the wider African election-observation community through the African Election Observers Network (AfEONet).

AfEONet brings together regional observer networks, including the East and Horn of Africa Election Observers Network (E-HORN), West African Election Observers Network (WAEON) and the Electoral Support Network of Southern Africa (ESN-SA).

Through these connections, ROCiDAC aims to promote the exchange of election-observation methodologies, strengthen learning among civil society organisations and encourage greater cooperation among election observers across Africa.

Engagement With Regional Institutions

ROCiDAC plans to maintain regular dialogue with key regional and national stakeholders, including ECCAS, ROGEAC, national electoral commissions, international non-governmental organisations, the media and other civil society actors.

The network also intends to participate in integrated learning missions with other regional observer networks and bring stakeholders together to develop recommendations aimed at improving electoral integrity in Central Africa.

Putting Citizens at the Centre

At the heart of ROCiDAC’s mission is an ambition to place citizens’ perspectives at the centre of electoral processes.

The network also seeks to promote a different understanding of Central Africa—one that goes beyond the region’s political and governance challenges to recognise the experience, agency and determination of democratic actors working within difficult environments.

By connecting these actors, ROCiDAC hopes to create greater space for regional leadership, collaboration and locally driven solutions.

The network’s launch represents a call for greater attention to the possibilities that remain open for democratic progress in Central Africa and the role civil society can play when democratic voices are connected, organised and heard.

Story by: Mark Acheampong