EU deploys 14 election observers across the country

Chief Observer Miroslav Poche, a member of the European Parliament (MEP), bade farewell to 14 short-term observers (STOs) who departed yesterday from the European Union Election Observation Mission’s (EU EOM) headquarters in Banjul to respective areas of observation across the country.

Prior to their deployment, the EU EOM’s STOs received comprehensive briefings on a wide range of issues, including the electoral process, political environment and media landscape.

The ceremony was held at Ocean Bay Resort Cape Point, Bakau.

“This team of short-term observers brings a wealth of diverse experience and reflects the interest of the European Union in the upcoming National Assembly elections,” said the Chief Observer, Mr Miroslav Poche.

Furthermore, the Chief Observer stressed: “The EU strongly stands by the understanding that election observation is not a one-day event and that an informed assessment of an election cannot be made if observation is limited to election-day monitoring.  Therefore, the EU has deployed its observation mission three weeks prior to Election Day and will remain in The Gambia to observe the post-election environment, including the adjudication of complaints, if any.”

On March, 14 long-term observers in multinational teams of two have been deployed to all of the seven regions and the mission’s scope of observation will be broadened as 14 STOs and a dozen of locally-recruited short-term observers from EU member states’ embassies accredited to The Gambia have joined the mission. STOs will primarily observe the proceeding on Election Day as well as the tabulation of the results.

On April, a ten-member delegation of the European Parliament (EP) will also be integrated into the mission. The EP delegation is headed by Ms Jean Lambert, the MEP from the United Kingdom. Around Election Day the EU EOM in The Gambia will comprise up to 50 observers drawn from 27 EU member states, as well as Norway and Switzerland.

The mission operates in accordance with the “Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation,” adopted under the auspices of the United Nations in 2005.

In addition, observers are bound by a code of conduct that assures strict neutrality and impartiality course of their duties.