Monrovia – The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa International Election Observation Mission (EISA-IEOM) has announced the arrival of Short-term Observers (STOS) to monitor the October 10, 2023, General and Presidential elections in Liberia.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)[email protected]
The international observer mission is headed by Dr. Nevers Mumba, former Vice President of the Republic of Zambia and deputized by EISA Executive Director, Mr. Baidessou Soukolgue, supported by a technical team with a permanent presence in Liberia. 20 short-term international observers arrived in Liberia on Thursday 5 October 2023.
Speaking with journalists upon the arrival of the team over the weekend, the former Vice President said the EISA-IEOM has been in Liberia since January 2023, observing various aspects of the elections ranging from the biometric voter registration (BVR) exercise, provisional voters’ roll exhibition, candidate nomination process and the ongoing political campaigns in eleven of Liberia’s fifteen counties.
“These counties include Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Montserrado, Margibi, Lofa, Nimba, Maryland, and River Gee. The 20 STOs bring a total of 32 observers (from 20 African countries) deployed to the 2023 elections in Liberia. EISA initially deployed a total of 12 Long and Medium-term Observers (LTO/MTOS) in April and July 2023 respectively to observe the early stages of the elections,” Dr. Mumba said.
Having observed the last few days of political campaigning and the final deployment of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials, the short-term observers along with their long-term colleagues will observe Tuesday’s voting day procedures, and the result tallying process.
According to Zambia’s former Vice President, EISA’s assessment of the elections in Liberia is consistent with the legal framework in the country and international standards for elections and democracy.
The framework, he says includes the Constitution of Liberia, the Elections Law of Liberia, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance, and the Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa.
“EISA International Election Observation Mission will issue a preliminary statement on its findings at a press conference on October 12, 2023. The short-term mission will remain in Monrovia until 15 October 2023. Its secretariat is located at the Cape Hotel, Monrovia.” He said.
The former Zambian Vice President added: “EISA International Observation Mission (EISA-IEOM) Activity seeks to enhance the integrity of the 2023 Liberia Presidential and Legislative elections through the deployment of an independent international election observer mission (EOM) to monitor, assess and report on all phases of the electoral process in accordance with international and regional benchmarks. The IEOM is implemented in close coordination with the financial support of USAID/Liberia, and will complement the efforts of other electoral stakeholders.”
Former Zambia VP Makes Appeal
Also, addressing questions from journalists, Dr. Mumba called on Liberians to express themselves through the ballot boxes and not get involved with election violence. He said EISA will work in partnership with all the relevant stakeholders and the authorities to promote the best practice of democratic tenancy.
“We will work with NEC, we will work with the government, the political parties that are involved in the election process. We can only appeal to the Liberian people that they have a wonderful opportunity to express their democratic right of choosing their leaders that they want through a democratic process without any violence, there is no need for violence,” Dr. Mumba said.
He added: “The stakeholders like the police and the law enforcement agency will continue to do their part and play their role to ensure that there is an order before, during, and after the election.”
“It is not for us to stop the violence, we can only appeal to the Liberian people to take this election as a God-given opportunity to create for themselves a great future for themselves, their children, and their children’s children, and so violence cannot lead you to that point,” Zambia former Vice President said.
In the case where there are suspicions of irregularities in the conduct of the election, Dr. Mumba said there are clear guidelines in every constitution of any republic if there is a contestation of elections, adding that political actors need to follow the legal proceedings.
“There are legal options that are made available to the candidates to pursue legal options to have their situations resolved and our advice as an observer has always been that it is better to try legal option instead of going into violence or any other directions,” he said.
“We Don’t Take Side”
Summing up, Dr. Mumba stressed that their mission as an observer group is to promote democracy and remain neutral. He further that after the election, his team will produce a communication regarding the findings from their observation team.
“We will generate a statement for a position in relationship to the constitution of Liberia, in relation to the electoral act of Liberia, and in relation to the international standards of democratic election, that is our mission,” he said.
Dr. Mumba added: “Our mission is not to take any side; we do not benefit anything in term of personal benefit. I think that we will be wasting the resources that we have put on ourselves, to come here and take a side. I think our responsibility is to help you Liberians to feel that your votes are counted. Everyone that will vote must feel that their vote is counted.”
He also assures the public that as head of mission there will be no impartiality in reporting on the outcome of the election. Dr. Mumba assures the public that his team will make certain recommendations based upon international standards for democratic election.
“In the case where a country falls short, we also highlight that in this area, this election was inconsistent with your constitution, your election propriety, and the international norms of democratic election,” he said.
He added: “We do that for the country to use those recommendations in the next election, in that process you continue to improve. We do that as an observer mission. We do not interfere; we are not a police service who can enforce something. We are legal combination, and our long-term observers will be here until December. So, we will continue to engage the government, NEC, and the constitutions that are related to the election to ensure that those recommendations we have made can be acted upon.”
“That is how we can go as observer group. We are here to observe and give a report that this is what we have observe during the election and the people of Liberia are going to know our position, the government is going to know position, the opposition parties are going to know our position and you the media are going to know our position,” Dr. Mumba ended.
About EISA
The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) is a continental not-for-profit organization located in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire with field offices in the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Madagascar, Niger, Liberia Chad, and Sudan. EISA has continental and sub-regional programs in the field of elections and democracy throughout Africa. EISA strives for excellence in the promotion of credible elections, domestic participation, and the strengthening of political institutions for sustainable democracy in Africa. EISA is partnering with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Liberia to implement an International Elections Observation Mission for the Liberia 2023 elections.
The USAID-funded EISA International Election Observation Mission (EISA-IEOM) Activity seeks to enhance the integrity of the 2023 Liberia Presidential and Legislative elections through the deployment of an independent international election observer mission (EOM) to monitor, assess and report on all phases of the electoral process in accordance with international and regional benchmarks. The IEOM is implemented in close coordination with the financial support of USAID/Liberia and will complement the efforts of other electoral stakeholders.