Durban - Being a politically fragile continent, African elections are always facing integrity issues more than their global counterparts.

This is according to My Vote Counts, a non-profit organisation founded to improve accountability in South Africa.

Speaking ahead of the Electoral Accountability Summit in Africa, which will be held in Durban on Wednesday and Thursdays this week, Chris Edyegu from the organisation said free and fair elections are an essential means of accountability and are the cornerstone of a democracy.

He said unfortunately, many of Africa’s past elections have been mired in controversy.

“However, although these countries reveal progress in democratic consolidation, studies reveal that the threat to electoral integrity is greater in Africa than it is anywhere else in the world. It is for this reason that the opportune time to convene a political summit on Electoral Accountability in Africa is now,” Edyegu said