The ECOWAS Permanent Representative and Head of Mission in The Gambia, Madam Namizata Meita Sangare, has charged members of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission to the country to discharge their duties with a high sense of responsibility, cognizant that their presence would encourage stakeholders “to do the right thing.”
“Your mission is very important as preventive diplomacy, and at the same time risky,” she told visiting ECOWAS Long-term Observers in her Banjul office on Thursday, 12 November. “Your role is to bring cohesion and boost public assurance/confidence in the electoral process.”
Madam Sangare said that as a former head of the National Human Rights Commission, who supervised the deployment of local observers in her country, Côte d’Ivoire, and also having served as an election observer, she understood the functions of an observation mission, which “is required to tell the truth, and support the Electoral Management Bodies, the government and other stakeholders in ensuring a credible electoral process, and maintaining international standards.”
Côte d’Ivoire was divided after its disputed 2010 election, and the Permanent Rep. recalled the peaceful role played by ECOWAS and the international community, adding: “I am here for any support you might need.”
Earlier, Mr Barou Luther Youkou, a member of the ECOWAS Commission’s Technical Support team, had explained the objectives of the long-term mission during the Gambia’s 5 December presidential election.
The short-term observers would join the combined Observation Mission headed by Cabo Verde’s former Prime Minister, Dr Ulisses Correia E Silva.
The Mission would hold consultations with various stakeholders and be deployed across the Gambian districts to monitor key stages of the electoral process, before, during and after the election period, to ensure that international standards and best practices are maintained.
The ECOWAS Commission President, Gen. Birame Diop (rtd), authorised the deployment of the Mission under relevant protocols supporting member States holding elections.
The Commission has equally provided financial assistance to the Independent Electoral Commission, civil society and media groups in the Gambia after undertaking a pre-election fact-finding mission to the country in June.
ECOWAS has a Military Mission in the Gambia (ECOMIG) deployed for peace stabilisation following the country’s disputed 2016 presidential election.
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