Commonwealth to observe Sierra Leone elections

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon on 25 July 2007 announced that the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) for the presidential and parliamentary elections in Sierra Leone will be led by Dr Kenny Anthony, former Prime Minister of St Lucia. The elections are scheduled for 11 August 2007.

Speaking after announcing the COG, the Secretary-General reiterated that “observing elections is one of the ways of strengthening democracy in member countries.”

“This election is crucial for Sierra Leone. It is important that the whole process is credible as this would further stabilise the political process and create a conducive environment necessary for sustainable development,” Mr McKinnon said.

“The Commonwealth walks alongside the government and the people of Sierra Leone to make democracy and development a reality in that country. These elections mark Sierra Leone’s next, vital, step along that path.”

The Observer Group is constituted at the invitation of the National Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone. It also follows a report of an Assessment Mission which was in Sierra Leone in May 2007.

The Mission established that there is broad support for the presence of Commonwealth Observers. It also established that the Observers will have access to polling places and counting centres and generally be free to pursue their mandate.

Other members of the COG include Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman, Electoral Commission, Ghana; Vera Baird, Solicitor-General, United Kingdom; Senator Walter Bennett from Swaziland; and Joseph Hamisi Dena, Commissioner, Electoral Commission, Kenya.

Also in the Group are Ahmed Mahloof, Deputy Asia Regional Representative, Commonwealth Youth Caucus, Maldives; Edith Nawakwi, a politician from Zambia; and Judith Thompson, Election Consultant, Canada.

Dr Afari-Gyan has been in Sierra Leone as an ‘Advance Observer’ since 21 July 2007. The rest of the Group arrives in the country on 2 August.

The Observers have been invited in their individual capacities and the views they express regarding the elections will be their own and not those either of their respective governments or of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The Group will be supported by a Commonwealth Secretariat Team lead by Professor Ade Adefuye, Special Adviser and Head of Africa Section, Political Affairs Division.

The Commonwealth has been consistently involved in the post-war reconstruction of Sierra Leone. After the war, the Secretariat established a task force that has been involved in activities focusing on the reintegration of former child soldiers; training of the country’s police force, and diplomats; providing assistance to the National Electoral Commission; and training in debt management, among others.

The Terms of Reference of the Group are available here

Key Links:

• Democracy
• Sierra Leone Country Profile