Praia, Cape Verde, 27 September 2016: African Union Commission (AUC) announces the arrival of an observation mission for presidential elections for the 2 October 2016 in the Republic of Cape Verde. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), HE Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has decided to dispatch this Mission, to monitor and report on the electoral process.

The African Union Electoral Observation Mission (AUEOM) is led by H.E Mr. Manuel Serifo Nhamadjo, former Acting President of the Republic of Guinée-Bissau. The team Comprises of 29 observers, the AUEOM also comprises of ambassadors accredited to the African Union, officials of election management bodies, members of civil society. In total the team is made up of 19 countries representing the geographical diversity of the continent.[1]

The Mission will monitor the progress of the electoral process in line with relevant provisions of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance adopted in 2007 and entered into force in 2012, which aims to improve the electoral processes in Africa, strengthen electoral institutions and the conduct of fair, free and transparent elections; the Declaration of the OAU / AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa 2002; AU Guidelines for observation missions and monitoring the elections of 2002 and other relevant international instruments governing the conduct of democratic elections in Africa. The observation will also rely on the existing legal framework for the organization of the presidential elections of 2nd October in Cape Verde Republic.

The Mission will make an independent, professional and impartial observation of the conduct of this election with its observation on the regularity, transparency, fairness and the proper conduct of electoral activities.

In line with its mandate, the AUEOM will meet the political and judicial authorities of the country, officials of the defense and security forces, institutions in charge of elections, the media regulatory authority, candidates competing and the civil society organizations to be informed of the arrangements for holding a transparent election, credible and fair. The Mission will also interact with other Election Observation Missions deployed to the Republic of Cape Verde.

The AUEOM present its preliminary findings and recommendations on the conduct of the election, during a press conference to be held Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at 15 hours in VIPPRAIA hotel in Praia - Cape Verde.

Arrival 24 September 2016, the Mission has established its Secretariat at VIPPRAIA hotel in Praia, and will stay in the country until October 6, 2016.

The AU Electoral Observation Mission thanks the authorities of the Republic of Cape Verde for all the provisions they are willing to take in order to facilitate its work on the entire national territory. 

Done at Praia, 27 September 2016

For the Mission,

His Excellency Manuel Serifo Nhamadjo

Head of Mission