Obasanjo led African Union Election Observation Mission arrive Ethiopia

H.E Olusegun Obasanjo, the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has arrived to Addis Abab on 17 June 2021. He is the Head of the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia’s 21 June 2021 General Elections.

Upon his arrival, the Head of AUEOM had meetings with the Chairperson of the AUC, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat; AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), H.E. Amb. Bankole Adeoye; representatives from Ethiopian and other Stakeholders to discuss and brief them about the mandate of the AUEOM.

Preceding the arrival of the Head of AUEOM, a two-day orientation and briefing programme for African Union Election Observers Mission (AUEOM) from 14-16 June 2021. The briefing covered details about the political context of the election, such as the preparations by National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), Legal Framework for Elections in Ethiopia, and other presentations from different stakeholders in Ethiopia, and the African Union (AU) election observation methodology. The briefing was meant to help observers get a good understanding and appreciation of the legal framework and the conduct of the 21 June 2021 General Elections in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia before their deployment.

The deployment of an AUEOM in Ethiopia 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 Africa; 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 in the continent.

The Mission comprises eight (8) long-term observers (LTOs) deployed from 2 June 2021, to undertake observation and analysis of key aspects of the electoral process before, during and after the electoral process, particularly the political environment, electoral legal framework, the effectiveness and transparency of electoral preparation and administration, and campaign environment, including freedom of the media and respect for core participatory rights throughout the process. This analysis will form a key part of the AU’s overall assessment of the conduct of the 21st June 2021 general elections in Ethiopia.

The STOs composed of 34 Short-Term Observers, were deployed on 14 June 2021 and are drawn from Ambassadors accredited to the African Union, Officials of Election Management Bodies, members of African civil society organizations, African election experts, Human Rights specialists, gender and media experts, and representatives of youth organizations. The observers are from 24 countries which include Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo Eswatini, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Nigeria, Republic of Guinea, Senegal, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

The objective of the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) is to make an independent, objective and impartial assessment of the 21st June 2021 General Elections in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in accordance with the national, regional and international standards for democratic elections.

Observers will be deployed to seven (7) regions of the country and the administrative states of Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. The regions include Afar, Amhara, Benishangul, Gambela, Sidama, Southern Nations Nationalities & Peoples (SNNPR) and Oromia. The Secretariat of the AUEOM in Ethiopia is located at Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.