The purpose of this thesis is to research and understand the effect that three prominent African intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) have on democracy, by looking at the election observers they deploy and the charters they implement. My research question is what effects do the African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and Southern African Development Community (SADC) have on democracy in Africa. In light of this, democracy should be flourishing on the continent.