Regional Observer Mission to the DRC 2006 Parliamentary and Presidential Elections

EISA hereby launches its Regional Election Observer Mission for the forthcoming DRC Parliamentary and Presidential Elections that will be held on 30 July 2006. Leading the delegation is Mr. Yusuf Aboobaker, Chairperson of the Electoral Supervisory Commission in Mauritius. The mission will be composed of 25 members drawn from civil society organisations, election management bodies and academic institutions from various countries, namely Angola, Mozambique, Côte d'Ivoire, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Madagascar, South Africa and Mauritius.

EISA's Principles for Election Management, Monitoring and Observation in the SADC Region (PEMMO) was launched in the DRC on 28 February 2006. It should be recalled that these principles, adopted in November 2003, were drafted in consultation with all electoral commissions in the SADC region as well as civil society organisations (CSOs) working in the field of elections. PEMMO provides the region with an objective basis with which to conduct and assess elections.

The mission is expected to arrive in the DRC on July 23 2006 in order to hold a series of meetings with election stakeholders such as political parties, CSOs, the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) and academics, ahead of election day. The mission will remain in the country until 02 August 2006 after observing the voting and counting processes as well as post-polling activities. The mission will cover selected rural and urban areas around the country.

EISA is a regional non-governmental organisation established in 1996, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Its mission is to strengthen electoral processes, good governance, human rights and democratic values in the SADC region and beyond through research, capacity building, advocacy and other targeted interventions. The organisation services governments, electoral commissions, political parties, civil society organisations and other institutions operating in the democracy and governance fields in the SADC region and beyond.