Djibouti, 19 February 2018 – In the context of the upcoming legislative elections scheduled to take place on 23 February 2018 in the Republic of Djibouti, H.E Mr. Anicet-Georges Dologuélé, Head of the African Union (AU) Elections Observation Mission, and former Prime Minister of the Central African Republic has embarked on meeting all the political, administrative and judicial authorities of the country as well as the institutions in charge of elections including the national actors involved in the electoral process and the representatives of the international community. The objective of the consultation meetings is to exchange views, understand the political landscape and environment of the country, so as to be fully aware of the arrangements made to ensure a free, fair and credible elections in the country.

During the meeting with Amb. Adam Kulach, Chief of the European Union Delegation to Djibouti and IGAD on Monday 19 February 2018, the AU Head of Mission presented the objectives and expectations of the AU observers during the upcoming legislative elections. He said the aim of the AU is to ensure a successful elections with the view to enhance the democratization process of the country. Former Prime Minister Dologuele informed the EU Representative that his Mission consist of 38 observers, drawn from 22 AU member countries, to be deployed in all the regions and districts of Djibouti.

Both officials expressed the positive impact of the new provision of the electoral law of Djibouti to grant a 25% quota for the participation of women as candidates in the legislative elections. This, the EU Ambassador said, will make a difference in this year’s results as well as send out a good message for other countries to emulate. “Djibouti has a good story to tell with the inclusion of a quota to encourage women’s participation”, underscored Amb. Kulach. He also appreciated the willingness of the government to open the registration of voters on the list for a longer period to give enough time to all the illegible voters to register and take part in the elections. Both personalities expressed the AU and the EU wish to see an inclusive elections where all the actors concerned are encouraged to take active part with the view to enhance democracy in the country.

On the same vein, the Head of the Election Observation Mission of the African Union met with Mrs. Barbara Manzi, Resident Coordinator of the United Nation Development Program (UNDP) and UNFPA Resident Representative in Djibouti. They both discussed the need to encourage the political actors and the different institutions in charge of organizing the different elections in the country to strengthen their capacities in a bid to enhance the democratic process in the country.

The two personalities also underscored the need to encourage civic education of the population so that they can participate massively in the elections. They underlined the important role of the media to raise awareness and sensitize the population on the need to fully take part in the electoral processes of their country so that they can chose their representatives to defend their interest at the level of the parliament and beyond.

The African Union Head of Mission was accompanied in the different official meetings by H.E Fafre Camara, Ambassador of the Republic of Mali to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and accredited to Djibouti; Hon. Mrs. Niang Aminata, Member of Parliament of the National Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, who is also the Vice President of Women’s Caucus at the Pan African Parliament; alongside some officials of the AU Commission.

For any other information, please contact:

Karine Kakasi Siaba: +253 77 27 30 48
Email: Kakasik@africa-union.org
Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit (DEAU)
Department of Political Affairs | Commission of the African Union

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Esther Azaa Tankou: +253 77 43 43 35
E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org
Directorate of Information and Communication | Commission of the African Union
E-mail: dinfo@africanunion.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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