Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions for Sierra Leone's Presidential Elections

Publisher: European Union Election Observation Mission

Publication Date: August 13, 2007

Copyright: 2007

Publisher Website: http://www.eueomsierraleone.org

Language: en

Category: Conflict, Peace and Security, Sierra Leone

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The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has been present in Sierra Leone since 6 July 2007 following an invitation from the National Electoral Commission (NEC). The Mission is led by Chief Observer, Marie Anne Isler Béguin, Member of the European Parliament. In total, the EU EOM deployed 83 observers from 23 EU Member States as well as Switzerland and Norway. The observers were deployed across Sierra Leone to assess the entire electoral process in accordance with international and regional standards for genuine democratic elections. The EU EOM is independent in its findings and conclusions and adheres to the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation commemorated at the United Nations in October 2005. On election day, the observers visited over 445 polling stations in all 14 districts covering 88 of the 112 electoral constituencies of Sierra Leone to observe voting and counting. The EU EOM is currently observing the tallying process at the NEC National Tally Centre as well as the complaints and appeals processes. It is now crucial that the tallying of the results accurately reflects the will of the voters. The EU EOM will remain in country to observe all aspects of the election process including a possible presidential run-off election and will publish a final report, containing detailed recommendations for the future, within two months of the conclusion of the entire process. The European Parliament also sent a delegation of seven members to observe the elections. It was chaired by Martin Callanan MEP who shares the views expressed in this statement.

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