Regional Observer Mission to Madagascar 2006 Presidential Elections

Arrival Statement

EISA hereby launches its Regional Election Observer Mission for the forthcoming Presidential Elections in Madagascar that are to be held on 3 December 2006. Leading the delegation is the Honourable Paul Berenger, former Prime Minister of Mauritius. The mission will consist of 14 members drawn from civil society organisations in various SADC countries, namely Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritius and South Africa, as well as a delegate from Cameroon.

The mission's assessment will be based on the EISA/ECF Principles for Election Management, Monitoring and Observation in the SADC Region (PEMMO) which were officially launched in Madagascar on 5 October 2006. It should be recalled that these principles, which were adopted in November 2003, were drafted in consultation with all electoral commissions in the SADC region, as well as civil society organisations (CSOs) which work in the elections field. PEMMO gives the region an objective basis in terms of which to conduct and assess elections.

The mission is expected to arrive in Madagascar on 25 November 2006 in order to hold a series of meetings with election stakeholders, including the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reforms (MIRA), the Conseil National Electoral (CNE), political parties, CSOs and academics, ahead of Election Day. The mission will remain in the country until 6 November 2006, after observing the voting and counting processes, as well as post-polling activities. The mission will cover selected rural and urban areas in Madagascar.

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.

Issued by EISA.