Elections are taking places in several countries in East and Central Africa this year and IANSA members are taking an active role to campaign for a peaceful vote.

In Burundi, over 4500 civil society organisations formed a coalition of observers for the parliamentary election on 23 July and the presidential election on 28 July. Among these was IANSA member Ligue Burundaise des Droits de l'Homme - ITEKA represented by Celcsus Barahinduka. Good Generation of Burundi/ Bonne Generation du Burundi has held weekly meetings throughout the election period to raise awareness among young people about the negative effects of guns and to promote peace and non-violence around the elections.

In Rwanda, Association BETHESAIDA has launched a campaign for a gun free election,scheduled for 9 August. "We are delighted that local civil society organisations are going to participate as observers of the elections" said Salomon Ruzindana Shambembe, "we are appealing to the population and all opinion leaders to observe a gun free election in order for people to make their choice freely without the threat of armed violence."

A referendum will take place in Kenya on 4 August on a new Constitution as part of the power sharing agreement after the election violence of December 2007 where more than 1,000 persons were killed and an estimated 500,000 displaced. Kenyan civil society organisations are working together to avoid a repetition of such violence. On 28 July the Fellowship of Christian Councils in the Great Lakes & Horn of Africa (FECCLAHA) sponsored a consultation on the role of the Kenyan clergy in maintaining national unity during and after the Referendum.

An election is scheduled in Tanzania in October and in the Central African Republic elections are expected to take place towards the end of this year.