AU approves election observation mission to Rwanda

The chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat has approved the deployment of a short-term African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) to Rwanda. 

This is in response to an invitation from the Government and the Electoral Commission of the Republic of Rwanda, a press release issued from Addis Ababa today has revealed. 

The mission will observe the upcoming Presidential election in the country scheduled for  August 4th. 

The Mission will be headed by, former President of the Republic of Mauritius, Cassam Uteem and will comprise of 40 observers drawn from various African countries and AU institutions.

The short-term observers will arrive in Kigali on July 27th and will remain until the announcement of final results. 

Shortly after Election Day, the mission will issue a preliminary statement of its findings at a press conference at Park Inn Hotel in Kigali and a final report, including recommendations for improvement of future electoral processes in Rwanda, will be presented at a later stage, after the completion of the entire electoral process. 

The deployment of an election observation mission to Rwanda is in line with the African Union's mandate of promoting democratic elections on the continent, which is enshrined in the 2007 African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and the 2002 OAU/AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa. 

It is in accordance with the aspirations and goals of Agenda 2063, particularly Aspiration No. 3, which aims to deepen democratic values and practices, build confidence in electoral processes, and ensure capable and accountable institutions and transformative leadership on the continent.