African Union election observer mission to Banjul
brief media
Dr. Azu'u heads AU observer mission to Gambia |
The African Union (AU) election observer mission to Banjul
has told journalists at a press briefing on Tuesday that they are in Gambia
following an invitation extended to it by Government of The Gambia and the
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
The H. E. Jean Ping (Chairperson of the African Union
Commission) - appointed observer team to monitor Gambia’s presidential election
of November 24, is headed by Dr. Fonkam Samuel Azu’u, Chairman the Independent
Electoral Commission Cameroon (ELECAM).
Dr Azu’u said members his team include Pan African
Parliamentarians, Experts from Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) and leaders
of civil society organizations (CSOs) from Benin, Cameroon, Kenya Mauritania,
Niger, Swaziland, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
“The African Union mission will observe the 24th
November Presidential Elections within the spirit and letter of the Durban Declaration
on the Principles of Good Governing Democratic Elections in Africa adopted by
the Assembly of African Union in July 2002,” Dr. Azu’u said.
“The presence of the observer mission constitutes an
equivocal commitment of the African Union to contribute to the promotion and
strengthening of democracy and the rule of law on our Continent. The main
objective of the mission is to make an honest, independent and impartial
observation and assessment of the organisation and conduct of these elections.”
Throughout the election observation period, the AU observer
mission, while safeguarding the independence and integrity of the African
Union, will cooperate, liaise and consult with other International and domestic
Election observer missions. Several consultative meetings and interactions will
be held with various Gambians stakeholders and International Observer groups.
These, according to Dr. Azu’u include among others, the
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of The Gambia, Election Observer Mission
from the European Union, The Commonwealth, the National Council for Civil
Education (NCCE), the Gambia political parties, the media, and Civil Society
Organizations.
He said Members of the mission will be deployed throughout
the Gambia ahead of the voting day in order to assess the manner in which the
people of the Gambia are participating in the current electoral process and the
environment in which they will exercise their democratic rights.
“The AU is accepted to remain in the country until the 29th
of November, 2011. A preliminary statement outlining the African Union Observer
Mission’s general assessment and observations on the process will be issued at
a press conference to be held by the AU Observer Mission prior to its departure
from the country,” he explained. “The full report of the AU Observer Mission on
the 2011 Presidential Elections will be presented to the Authorities of the
Government of the Gambia through the Office of the Chairperson of the African
Union Commission.”
- Author: Modou S. Joof
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