International Observers Arrive to Monitor Liberia’s 2023 Elections
A team of international observers has arrived in Liberia to monitor the upcoming General and Presidential elections, which will take place on October 10, 2023. The observer mission is being led by Dr. Nevers Mumba, the former Vice President of Zambia, and supported by a technical team. The mission, known as the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa International Election Observation Mission (EISA-IEOM), has been present in Liberia since January 2023 and has been closely following various stages of the electoral process.
The team of international observers includes 20 short-term observers from 20 African countries. They have joined the 12 Long and Medium-term Observers (LTO/MTOS) who were deployed earlier in the year to observe the early stages of the elections. Together, they will be monitoring voting day procedures, as well as the result tallying process.
Dr. Mumba emphasized that the EISA-IEOM’s assessment of the elections will be in line with the legal framework of Liberia and international standards for elections and democracy. The mission will issue a preliminary statement on its findings at a press conference on October 12, 2023. The short-term mission will stay in Liberia until October 15, 2023, with its secretariat located at the Cape Hotel in Monrovia.
Dr. Mumba also made an appeal to the people of Liberia to express themselves through the ballot boxes and refrain from engaging in election violence. He highlighted the importance of working together with relevant stakeholders, including the National Elections Commission (NEC), political parties, and law enforcement agencies, to ensure a peaceful and fair electoral process.
The observer mission aims to enhance the integrity of the 2023 Presidential and Legislative elections in Liberia by providing an independent international election observer mission. The mission will monitor, assess, and report on all phases of the electoral process, in accordance with international and regional benchmarks. The assistance and coordination of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Liberia are crucial to the mission’s implementation.
The EISA-IEOM’s mission is not to take sides but to promote democracy and remain neutral. After the election, the mission will release a statement highlighting its observations and making recommendations based on international standards for democratic elections. The observations and recommendations aim to improve future elections and ensure that every vote is counted.
The arrival of international observers brings an added layer of transparency and accountability to Liberia’s electoral process. Their presence serves to reassure the public and international community that the elections will be conducted in a free, fair, and democratic manner. As Liberia prepares for the October 10, 2023 elections, all eyes will be on the country, with the hope that the process will serve as a shining example of democracy in action.
