The Judiciary of Eswatini, in collaboration with the Africa Electoral Justice Network (AEJN), will host the Pilot Training for Judges on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Electoral Justice from 22 to 23 May 2026 in Mbabane, Kingdom of Eswatini. The training will be held at Happy Valley Hotel & Casino, Ezulwini.

The workshop will be held under the theme “Judicial Preparedness for AI, Digital Technologies and Electoral Integrity in Africa.” It is aimed at strengthening judicial awareness of emerging technological developments affecting elections, justice delivery, digital evidence, electoral integrity and constitutional adjudication.

The programme forms part of a broader continental initiative by AEJN to support judiciaries in responding to the growing impact of artificial intelligence, digital communication platforms, social media, electronic electoral systems and emerging forms of digital evidence in election-related disputes. The training will also draw from the AEJN Toolkit on Artificial Intelligence, Elections and Electoral Justice, which was developed as a practical judicial resource for African courts.

Key sessions will focus on electoral justice in the era of AI and new technologies, digital evidence, deepfakes, disinformation, judicial remedies, institutional preparedness, judicial independence, ethics, and practical adjudication scenarios. The programme will also include workstream discussions aimed at localising judicial responses for Eswatini.

In his statement, the Hon. Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala noted that Eswatini is among the pilot jurisdictions identified for the judicial training, together with Nigeria and Senegal. He further observed that the Kingdom of Eswatini will be the first country in Africa to host this training on artificial intelligence and electoral justice.

The Judiciary of Eswatini remains committed to judicial learning, institutional preparedness and the strengthening of the administration of justice in response to emerging technological realities affecting electoral governance and democratic processes.