Kigali, Rwanda 1st August, 2017: Following the receipt of an invitation from the Government of the Republic of Rwanda, the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, His Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, approved the deployment of an AU Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) to observe the Presidential Elections scheduled to be held on 3rd and 4th August, 2017.
The AUEOM is led by the former President of the Transition Government of the Republic of Mali, H.E. Dioncounda Traore, who will arrived in Kigali on the 2nd of August 2017 and will interact with key electoral stakeholders before and after the election.
The AU launched its election observation mission in Rwanda on 23rd July 2017 with the deployment of 34 short-term observers (STOs) drawn from 23 African countries , representing institutions such as the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC), the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), Election Management Bodies (EMBs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). The short-term observers will undertake the AUEOM’s coverage of the last days of campaign and Election Day proceedings including the opening of polling stations, and the voting and counting processes.
The deployment of the election observation mission to Rwanda is in line with the AU’s mandate of promoting democratic elections on the continent, enshrined in the 2007 African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance; the 2002 OAU/AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa; and Agenda 2063,Aspiration No. 3, which aims to deepen democratic values and practices, build confidence in electoral processes, and ensure capable and accountable institutions and transformative leadership on the continent.
The assessment of the Mission will be guided by the principles and guidelines provided forin these instruments, other relevant international instruments guiding international election observation, and the legal framework for elections of the Republic of Rwanda.
The Mission will issue a statement of its preliminary assessment of the elections on 6th August 2017 during a press conference at the Park Inn Hotel in Kigali. The mission’s final report will be released within two months of the announcement of final election results.

Note to Editor
The AUEOM’s mandate is derived from relevant AU instruments such as the 2007 African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance; the 2002 AU/OAU Declaration on Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa; and the 2002 AU Guidelines for Elections Observation and Monitoring Missions.
Further Information:
The AUEOM secretariat is located at Park Inn Hotel, in Kigali.
Mission Coordinator: Mr. Idrissa Kamara| Email: kamarai@africa-union.org; | Mobile: +250787320868
For media inquiries:
Faith Adhiambo | African Union Commission/ Directorate of Information and Communication Email: OchiengJ@africa-union.org | Mobile: +250787321955
More information:
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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