Press Release Nº 271/2015 30 Short-Term Observers of the AU

UNIÃO AFRICANA

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia P.O BOX 3243 Telephone: +251 11 551 7700 / +251 11 518 25 58 Website: www.au.int DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

Press release Nº 271/2015

30 short-term observers of the AU election observation mission deployed in Guinea for the 11th October 2015 Presidential election

Conakry, Guinea, 09 October 2015: The African Union Election observation mission (AUEOM) has deployed 30 short-term observers (STO) for the 11th October 2015 presidential election. A four-day training that took place from 05 to 08 October 2015 in Conakry preceded the deployment.

The training aims to provide short-term observers with tools to understand the political context in Guinea and to foster the ownership of different normative frameworks governing the African Union electoral observation mission in order to ensure an independent and fair electoral observation. In that regard, AU observers were briefed on the electoral code in Guinea, relevant regional and international frameworks for electoral processes, the African Union observation methodology, among others.

The training session was coordinated by the African Union observation Mission (AUEOM), in collaboration with experts from the Electoral Institute for a sustainable democracy in Africa (EISA). Furthermore, other stakeholders including the Independent Electoral Commission of Guinea (CENI in French), civil society organizations, among others, provided key information to the observers for a comprehensive understanding of the electoral process in Guinea. The Red Cross also briefed them on the current status of the Ebola Outbreak in Guinea.

For an efficient observation mission, the AUEOM attended a meeting to exchange views and information with the European Union Electoral Observation Mission in Guinea and will extend the interaction with other international missions including la Francophonie, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa States (CEMAC in French). The Mission also met with key stakeholders involved in the electoral process in Guinea including the Chairperson of the CENI and different candidates running for the Presidency. The Head of Mission, H.E M. Dileita Mohamed Dileita, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Djibouti, reiterated the commitment of the African Union for transparency during the presidential election.

“This election is a crucial moment for the people of Guinea. Therefore, contribute to guarantee the integrity of elections is the huge responsibility we have as AU Mission. The monitoring of AU observers will be critical to preserve peace and democracy in Guinea, non-negotiable conditions to improve the quality of life of its people. », declared H.E Dileita Mohamed Dileita, addressing observers before the deployment.

Different teams of the African Union Electoral have been deployed in all the prefectures in the Republic of Guinea since 08th October and will monitor the last days of the electoral campaign, the polling as well as the counting processes. On the 13th October 2015, the Mission will deliver its preliminary statement.

For more information, please contact:

Karine Kakasi Siaba| Department of Political Affairs | African Union Commission | Tel: +224660981225 |E-mail: [email protected]

Media Contact: Jerry Laurence Lemogo| Directorate of Information and Communication| African Union Commission | Tel: +224661745129 |E-mail: [email protected]