Dr. Yayi Boni, Head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission in Cabo Verde

The Former President of Benin, Dr. Yayi Boni, will lead the short-term Election Observation Mission of  the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for Sunday 2 October 2016 Presidential Election  in Cabo Verde.

Deployed by the regional Organisation in line with its Supplementary Protocol on democracy and good governance, the principal objective of the Mission will be to ensure smooth conduct of the electoral process leading to a free, transparent and credible election.

It will comprise 50 observers, including 10 long term and 40 short term.

Short term observers will come from ECOWAS Member States, with the exception of Cabo Verde and the regional Organisation’s Court of Justice. The short term mission will also include Ambassadors from Member States accredited to ECOWAS, Representatives of Civil Society Organisations, the Media as well as West African Election Management Bodies.

The 10 long term Observers, deployed since 10 September 2016, are specialists in political analysis, gender, conflict prevention, communication and electoral operations

The short and long term missions will be supported on the ground by a Technical Assistance Team from the ECOWAS Commission comprising the ECOWAS Commission President and the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Marcel de Souza and Mrs Halima Ahmed respectively. The Director of Political Affairs, Dr. Remi Ajibewa, the Head to the Election Assistance Division, Francis Oké and other Staff of the Institution will also be part of the team.

The Observers will be deployed to nine (9) out of the ten (10) Islands of Cabo Verde to observe and monitor all the pre-electoral, electoral and post-electoral operations and comment on the outcome of the elections. The observation will be on the regularity, transparency, fairness and smooth conduct of the elections.

At the end of the election, the ECOWAS Observation Mission will express its opinion and, if necessary, make appropriate recommendations to the various stakeholders in the electoral process. This will be contained in a preliminary statement to be read by the head of mission, Dr. Yayi Boni, at a press conference scheduled for 3 October 2016 in Praia.

Three (3) candidates are contesting this presidential election. They include the Incumbent President, Jorge Carlos de Almeida Fonseca, in power since 2011, supported by the Movement for Democracy (MFD)

Alcides Emanuel Lopes Graça and Joaquim Jaime Monteiro, both independent candidates are also running for the presidential election.

ECOWAS calls on candidates, political party leaders and their supporters to ensure that the 2 October  2016 presidential  election takes place in peace, tranquility and national cohesion.