Yaoundé, 5 September 2018: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat has authorized the deployment of a 12-member long-term election observation mission to the presidential elections scheduled to take place on 7 October 2018 in the Republic of Cameroon. Four (4) core team of analysts and eight (8) long-term observers (LTOs) arrived in Yaoundé, Cameroon on 5 September 2018 and will remain in the country until 19 October 2018 to comprehensively assess the electoral process in line with the African Union Long Term Election Observation Methodology. The Long Term Observation Mission will be joined by a Short Term Observation Mission close to the 7 October polls, from 28 September 2018 to 10 October 2018.

The Mission’s mandate is derived from relevant African Union instruments on democracy, elections and human rights, especially the 2007 African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance; the 2002 OAU/AU Declaration on Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa; the 2002 African Union Guidelines for Election Observation and Monitoring Missions; and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and will operate in accordance with these and other relevant international and regional instruments as well as the legal framework governing elections in Cameroon.

The overall objective of African Union Election Observation Missions is to promote democracy and build public confidence in electoral processes in AU Member States. The Missions are deployed in line with the AU’s aspirations outlined in Agenda 2063, particularly Aspiration No.3, which aims to ensure good governance, democracy, and respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law on the continent. The conduct of credible, democratic and peaceful elections in Member States is deemed critical to the realization of the AU’s aspirations and its overall goal of ensuring an integrated, peaceful and prosperous continent.

For further information, please contact Mr. Robert Gerenge through email: gerenger@africa-union.org