Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has arrived in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, to lead the African Union (AU), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Election Observation Mission ahead of Uganda’s January 15 general elections.
Dr. Jonathan arrived early Sunday morning as head of the joint Election Observation Mission (EOM), according to a statement issued by the three regional bodies in Kampala.
He is being assisted by Ambassador Shemsudin Ahmed Roble, a member of the COMESA Committee of Elders, and Commander Abebe Muluneh Beyene from IGAD.
The statement disclosed that the mission is made up of 84 short-term observers drawn from ambassadors accredited to the African Union, officials of election management bodies, civil society organisations, election experts, human rights specialists, gender and media experts, as well as representatives of youth groups.
It added that the observers will engage with key stakeholders, including Uganda’s Electoral Commission, political parties, the media, civil society organisations, members of the international community and other election observation missions operating in the country.
Observers participating in the mission were selected from more than 25 African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, Algeria, Botswana, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, among others.
According to the statement, the observers will be deployed across all regions of Uganda to monitor election day activities such as the opening of polls, voting process, closing of polling stations and vote counting.
The mission said its assessment will be guided by Uganda’s electoral legal framework, the AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and the International Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation.
In a letter inviting Dr. Jonathan to head the mission, the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, said the former Nigerian leader was selected in recognition of his strong Pan-African credentials, commitment to democracy and track record in promoting credible and peaceful elections across Africa.
The African Union expressed confidence that Dr. Jonathan’s leadership will enhance the credibility of the observation mission and contribute to democratic consolidation and electoral integrity in Uganda and across the continent.
