By Politico staff writer
An Election Observation Mission from the Carter Center is in Sierra Leone to monitor the June General Elections at the invitation of the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL).
The four-person team of experts arrived in Freetown from the United States, Poland, Kenya, and the United Kingdom. Additional electoral experts and medium-term observers from around the world will join them in advance of the campaign period, followed by short-term observers and high-level leadership around Election Day.
The Carter Center Field Office Director, Nicholas Jahr was quoted in a press statement saying
“We look forward to engaging with Sierra Leonean stakeholders across the political spectrum and providing an independent and impartial assessment of the electoral process.”
He hoped that their observation and reporting will provide important information to Sierra Leonean citizens, alongside key recommendations to stakeholders.
Carter Center’s Vice President for peace programs, Barbara J. Smith stated that the center has had a longstanding commitment to democracy in Sierra Leone, and they are honored to launch this international election observation mission in support of the electoral process.
The center is said to have conducted election observation work in accordance with the 2005 Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation. It makes assessments based on relevant parts of national legal frameworks as well as regional and international obligations for democratic elections.
It has been a force for peace in Sierra Leone since 2002 when it observed the first presidential and parliamentary elections following the end of Sierra Leone's devastating civil war. Since then, the carter center has played a role in the country’s 2007, 2012, and 2018 national elections.
It has also observed more than 110 elections in 39 countries.
It is a non-profit Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. It was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
In a related development, the locally based National Elections Watch (NEW) has announced the deployment already of Long Term Observers (LTOs) across the country. They are to undertake monitoring of preparations for the elections.
13 (thirteen) Political Parties presented Presidential candidates and Running Mates for provisional nomination by the ECSL recently. They were all approved by the commission.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (15/05/23)
