Former President Michel to Head AU Election Observer Mission to the Kingdom of eSwatini
Mon, 17 September 2018
Former President James Alix Michel will head the African Union’s Election Observer Mission (AUEOM) team to the Kingdom of eSswatini, formerly known as Swaziland,for general elections scheduled on September 21st.
Mr. Michel has accepted the invitation from the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat. He will be assisted as Head of Mission by the Director of Political Affairs of the AU Commission, Dr.KhabeleMatlosa and a team from the African Union Commission.
The mission itself comprises some thirty (30) short-term election observers drawn from the AU permanent Representatives Committee, the Pan African parliament, election management bodies, civil society organisations, think tanks and Independent Elections experts.
The objectives of the AU Observer Mission are to make an independent, objective and impartial assessment of the 2018 General Elections; offer recommendations for improvement of future elections in eSwatini and demonstrate AU’s interest in and support for eSwatini’s elections and democratization process to ensure that the conduct of genuine elections will contribute to the consolidation of democratic governance, peace and stability in the country.
In accepting the invitation, Mr. Michel says he is honoured to be able to contribute towards these noble objectives for the advancement of democracy in general in Africa.
As head of mission, Mr. Michel will represent the Chairperson of the AU Commission and be the only official spokesperson of the mission. He will ensure that the AUEOM is carried out in line with the established AU elections observer methodology as per the Guidelines for Election Observation and Monitoring missions adoptedin 2002.