EUROPEAN UNION ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION
General Elections – Sierra Leone
24 June 2023
European Union Launches Election Observation Mission to Sierra Leone
Freetown, 23 May 2023
For Immediate Release
In response to an invitation by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone, the European Union has deployed an EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) for the general elections scheduled for 24 June 2023. The EU EOM, led by Chief Observer Ms Evin Incir, Member of the European Parliament, started its activities in Freetown on 11 May with the arrival of a core team of 10 election experts.
“Tam honoured to lead the EU Election Observation Mission to Sierra Leone, a country that has an important role to play in the West Africa region as well as on a global scale. We, as a mission, have the mandate to observe the election process and, we will conduct our observation in a strictly impartial manner,” said the Chief Observer Ms Evin Incir at the opening press conference in Freetown
This week the EU EOM will deploy 28 long-term observers to cover all 16 districts of Sierra Leone.
They will observe for example the election preparations, the election campaign and the activities of electoral stakeholders.
Closer to election day, 40 short-term observers will join the EU EOM to observe the voting, counting and the tabulation of the results. In addition, a delegation of members of the European Parliament and approximately 10 locally-recruited short-term observers from the diplomatic missions of EU member states accredited to Sierra Leone will also join the EU EOM to observe the election day proceedings. At full strength the EU EOM will comprise some 100 observers drawn from 26 European Union Member states, Canada and Norway.
“Our aim in Sierra Leone is to support democratic consolidation. However, it is a joint responsibility of all political parties, candidates, civil society organisations, media, and the electoral administration to maintain a peaceful pre-election environment, in which fundamental rights and freedoms of all Sierra Leoneans are respected” said Chief Observer Evin Incir.
The EU EOM will issue a preliminary statement and hold a press conference in Freetown two davs after the elections. The mission will remain in Sierra Leone until the completion of the electoral process, including in case of a second round of the presidential election. The mission will also follow any potential complaints and appeals process. A final report, offering recommendations for future electoral processes, will be presented thereafter.
The EU EOM is bound by a code of conduct, which requires strict neutrality and non-interference.
It undertakes its work in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, endorsed under UN auspices in 2005.
For further information please contact: Yves DE WOLF, Press Officer
Email: Yves. DEWOLF@eomsierraleone2023.eu Tel: +232 90 088 307 // +232 74 786 50859
