Monrovia, Liberia, 6th October 2017 – As the African Union recognises that protecting the integrity of the electoral process is fundamental to the consolidation of the democratisation process in Liberia, a three-day orientation and briefing programme for observers from 5-7 October 2017 kicked-off yesterday. The briefing covers details about the political context of the election, the preparations by NEC and other stakeholders, and the African Union (AU) election observation methodology, and is meant to help observers get a good understanding and appreciation of the conduct of the 2017 presidential and legislative elections before their deployment.
The deployment of AUEOM to Liberia is in line with the AU’s mandate of promoting and deepening democracy and democratic elections on the continent, as enshrined in relevant African Union (AU) instruments such as the 2007 African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance; the 2002 OAU/AU Declaration on Principles Governing Democratic Elections in African; and the 2002 AU Guidelines for Election Observation and Monitoring Mission. It is also in line with the aspirations of the AU Agenda 2063, particularly Aspiration No.3, which aims to ensure good governance, democracy, and respect for human rights, justice and rule of law on the continent.
The AUEOM will be led by Erastus J.O. Mwencha, Former Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission. The Mission comprises 12 Long-Term Observers (LTOs) including 4 Core Team Analysts who were deployed on 2 September 2017, and 50 Short-Term Observers (STOs), who were deployed on 3 October 2017. The STO delegation comprises members from the African Union Permanent Representatives Council (PRC), Pan-African Parliament (PAP), the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), African Election Management Bodies, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and Independent Experts from Thinks Tanks, Academic Institutions, etc.
The objective of the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) is to make an independent, objective and impartial assessment of the Presidential Elections in the Republic of Liberia in accordance with the national, regional and international standards for democratic elections.
The training programme opening was honored by the presence of H.E. Ambassador Ibrahim Baba Kamara, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission to Liberia, and H.E Albert Chimbindi, Ambassador of the Republic of Zimbabwe to Ethiopia and to the African Union.
The Secretariat of the AUEOM in Liberia is located in GOLDEN GATE HOTEL, MONROVIA, LIBERIA
Notes to the Editors:
AUEOM Observation Methodology: AUEOM is based on a rigorous and comprehensive methodology, anchored on the principles of independence, impartiality, objectivity, transparency, non-interference, and consistency, which ensure its credibility. AU deploys both long-term and short-term observers to assess the election processes in its Member States. Since its involvement in observation activities, the AU observation methodology has seen a shift from the diplomatic/political missions of the early 1990s to a more professional and rigorous approach based on the electoral cycle. The passage of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance in 2007 and its coming into force in February 2012 lends further impetus to this growing focus on professional approach to election observation on the continent.

For more information, contact:
Mr Idrissa Kamara| Mission Coordinator:|| Cell: +258848501953| E-mail: kamarai@africa-union.org;
Media Contact:
Mr. Gamal Ahmed A. Karrar| Directorate of Information and Communication| African Union Commission E-mail: Gamalk@africa-union.org : Cell: +258778137630
For further information:
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I DIC@africa- union.org I www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dic@africa-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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