AU all-woman election observer mission launched |06 September 2016

The African Union (AU) all-woman election observer mission deployed here on Sunday for the September 8-10 parliamentary  election was officially launched yesterday in a ceremony at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino.

It is the first ever women-only observer mission in line with the AU’s commemoration of the ‘African Year of Human Rights with a Special Focus on the Rights of Women’.

The all-woman African Union Election Observer Mission (AUEOM)  comprises 26 short-term observers (STOs) drawn from 21 African countries, representing institutions such as the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC), the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), Election Management Bodies (EMBs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). The short-term observers will complement the AUEOM’s coverage of Election Day procedures from opening of polling stations to voting and counting procedures.

The AUEOM is led by Fatuma Ndangiza, the former chairperson of the African Peer Review Panel of Eminent Persons. She arrived in Seychelles on Saturday to strengthen the AU Mission and to interact with key stakeholders.

The assessment and observations of the mission will be guided by the principles and guidelines stated in these instruments, and other relevant international instruments guiding international election observation and the legal framework for the election in the Republic of Seychelles.

The mission will issue a statement of its preliminary assessment of the election on September 12 at a press conference in Victoria.  A final and comprehensive report will be released within two months from the date of announcement of the final election results.

During the launch yesterday morning Ms Ndangiza noted that it is indeed befitting that this first ever all-woman mission is deployed in Seychelles.

“As you might be aware, Seychelles is one of the leading countries in women’s participation in politics. Currently, Seychelles ranks number 4 in the world, number 2 in Africa – after Rwanda; and number 1 in the SADC region with the highest number of women parliamentarians.  Indeed, we have a lot to learn from this country – and we are honoured to launch our first ever all-woman mission in Seychelles,” Ms Ndangiza stressed.