São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe July 17th 2016: In a country of 200,000 inhabitants almost 101,164 Sao Tomeans in the country and 10,058 in the diaspora began voting today 17th July 2016, around the 311 existing polling stations to elect their future President for the next five years. Following a three day training, the AU observers will observe the opening of the polling stations and the voting process. While on ground in their areas of deployment, observers will consult with the local Electoral Commission staff, the Police, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure they adhere to the countries’ code of conduct eligible for observers
Based on its observation on Election Day, the AUEOM will come with its overall assessment, conclusions as well as recommendations.
The African Union (AU) Election Observer Mission is headed by H.E. Armando Emilio Guebuza, the former President of the Republic of Mozambique. Members of the Mission who have been on the ground since the 10th of July 2016 to observe the Presidential election, were seen at polling stations across the country.
AUEOM Head of Mission and members visited polling centers in where the observers verified logistical issues, voter turnout, opening, voting, closing and counting procedures, as well as accessibility of the stations , among other issues.
The Mission comprises twenty five (25) observers drawn from members, the Pan-African Parliament, African Election Management Bodies, Civil Society Organisations working in the area of democracy, governance and elections in Africa, Think Tanks, AUC staff and independent election experts.
Preliminary observations and recommendations of the Mission will be presented during a press conference scheduled for 19th July 2016 at the Pestana Miramar Hotel in Sao Tome. At the end of the electoral process, the AUEOM will issue a final report containing a detailed analysis of the conduct of the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
For more information, please contact the Mission Coordinator:
Mr. Guy Cyrille Tapoko, Ag. Head, DEAU, Political Affairs Department, African Union Commission/ Tel: +239 9013099/ E-mail: tapokog@africa-union.org
Media Contact:
Ms. Mugisha Barbara, Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission (AUC)/ Tel: +239 9015814/ E-mail: barbaram@africa-union.org
Juvenal Rodrigues, Head of Associação de Jornalistas Santomenses (AJS) Tel: +239 9922084 /E-mail: juverodrig@yahoo.com
For further information:
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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