MONROVIA – The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa International Election Observation Mission (EISA-IEOM) has praised the National Election Commission (NEC) for the manner and form in which the October 11, 2023, General and Presidential elections were conducted across the country.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)[email protected]
In January 2023, EISA launched a Long-Term Election Observation Mission Activity to support the integrity of the 2023 Liberia Presidential and Legislative elections by assessing and reporting on all aspects of the electoral process. Additionally, 12 Long-Term and Medium-Term Observers (LTOs) from April 2023 observed the preliminary stages of the elections. They were later joined by 20 Short-Term Observers (STOs) who arrived on October 5, 2023, and a total of 32 international observers (from 20 African countries) were deployed to 11 of Liberia’s 15 counties. Observers were drawn from Election Management Bodies (EMBs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and academia.
The EISA 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.
Addressing journalists during a post-election press briefing in Monrovia, Dr. Mumba said that despite the many constraints, the National Election Commission was able to fulfill its responsibilities throughout the 15 counties.
According to former Vice President Mumba, based on the EISA-IEOM assessment of the pre-election environment and the reports of its observer teams on election day, the mission acknowledges the peaceful and enthusiastic participation of Liberians in the electoral process.
“With a few exceptions, voting proceeded without interruption throughout the day, and voters freely expressed their choices. The NEC discharged its responsibilities with diligence, often under difficult conditions, and EISA’s observers expressed confidence in the conduct of NEC staff,” Dr. Mumba said.
The former Zambia Vice President added, “EISA calls on all stakeholders, supporters, security personnel, and the media to sustain the peaceful conduct of election day as the country waits for the tallying process and the final announcement of results.”
He added that the observer teams covered key phases of the electoral process, including voter registration, party primaries, electoral campaigns, pre-polling, and election day activities.
According to him, the Mission’s presence in Liberia is set to continue until May 2024. He added that EISA IEOM has engaged with a range of key stakeholders, including the National Electoral Commission (NEC), the Liberia National Police (LNP), political parties and candidates, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), ECOWAS, Election Observation Networks, the Peacebuilding Commission, development partners, women, youth, and persons living with disabilities for a smooth conduct of the election.
“This collaborative approach ensured a comprehensive and informed assessment of the electoral process in Liberia,” he said.
EISA Mission’s assessment of the electoral process, he says, is based on the principles and obligations for democratic elections stipulated in the African Union (AU) Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections; the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance (ACDEG); the Principles for Election Management, Monitoring, and Observation (PEMMO); and the legal framework for elections in Liberia.
“EISA’s observation methodology is guided by the Declaration of Principles for International Observation (DoP) and its attendant code of conduct for observers,” Dr. Mumba added.