Exclusive: AU agrees not to send polls observers to countries holding elections

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Last Updated on: 15th May 2020, 08:43 pm

On Thursday, a virtual conference of the Permanent Representatives Committee was chaired by H.E Ambassador Xolisa Makaya who’s the South African Permanent Representative to the African Union. in that meeting, a number of important issues affecting the continent were discussed.

Among them, and very key was Africa Union’s briefing on impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on elections in Africa.

In a brief read out by H.E Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma, a copy of which TND News has since got, COVID-19 pandemic has direct impact on elections as “it presents both health emergency and humanitarian crisis which has stressed Africa’s governance, peace and development challenges”.

Amb Cessouma is a Commissioner for Political Affairs with AU.

In that perspective, the report further notes that African Union (AU) will not be sending her squads of polls observers to respective countries going to hold elections until the threat by the novel coronavirus disease is contained.

About 23 member states are scheduled to hold national elections this year 2020 with Burundi and Malawi going to polls on 20^th May and July 2^nd, 2020, respectively.

However, Commissioner for Political affairs opines that organizing elections in the COVID-19 pandemic context poses three overarching dilemmas: constitutional, legitimacy and financial.

“This is so because a government that continues operation after expiry of its tenure and or conducts elections during COVID-19 and registers low voter turn up would be illegitimate and unconstitutional, respectively,” she added.

In response, Ambassador Rebecca Amuge Otengo, who’s the Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) as well as UNECA noted that the common challenges posed by COVID-19 is an inevitable bottleneck given a drastic shift in World’s social order since COVID-19 was declared global pandemic.

Ambassador Otengo who’s also Uganda’s envoy to Ethiopia and Djibouti further noted that there is need to balance the rights to elections and public health.

“It’s important that we strike a balance between the rights to vote and the rights to health. Every country presents a unique battle with COVID-19. Countries must be allowed to make a judgement call on elections regarding the prevailing circumstances of its people,” Otengo added.

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Ms Otengo called upon African Union to encourage case by case analysis and continued consultation on the surge of COVID-19 within member states to inform decisions on elections, adding that it would be unfair to conduct an election when majority of one’s population is dying.”

Her submission was supported by Chair Amb. Makaya who directed that elections are sovereign responsibilities of each member states who are at liberty to conduct so in as far as its circumstances permits.

Reactions

Following AU sanction, TND News on Friday put questions to senior politicians and a former Minister in Museveni’s government, including an NGO executive on the decision.

Asked if this is fair for African democracy and the relevance of AU polls observers, below were their reactions.

Ms Claudia Apio, the Executive Director Lira NGO Forum who is so passionate about accountability and rule of Law, said, “First of all, it’s good for us to understand why people vote. For any government to be instituted, there must be the will of the people freely and fairly expressed periodically to show the legitimacy of the government.”

“If they have decided they are not coming, we need to look at the consequences,” she added.

According to Apio, there is no divergent views in the reports of the elections observers, adding: If their decision is based on COVID-19, do they have enough finance to observe elections? “What have been their importance in observing and monitoring polls?” she asked.

Daniel Omara Atubo, a former Member of Parliament Otuke County in Otuke district, answered: “It is now globally accepted as a principle of democracy that for an election to be credible, it must be seen to be free, fair, transparent and peaceful. Those to see the credible electoral process are independent bodies such as Africa Union. Failure to allow international monitors will render the election undemocratic.”

Ishaa Otto Amiza, a political commentator and former Oyam South MP, said: “First, the African Union is a mere chart body for her membership, the Presidents that subscribe to them. Secondly, AU has no capacity to monitor elections independently to provide authoritative report on elections in Africa. Their pull-out is insignificant.”

23 African countries having elections this year – 2020. Source: Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa

Holding Uganda’s 2021 general polls also seems to be in doubt due to coronavirus strike. Whereas country’s elections planner, the Electoral Commission is yet to publicly announce they are incapable of guiding and organising next general polls due to the virus surge, President Gen Yoweri Museveni gave some hints.

President Yoweri Museveni said it would be wrong to hold a presidential election due early next year if the coronavirus persists, an indication polls could be postponed for the first time.

“The problem will be having elections when the virus is still around. It will be madness for people to gather,” Museveni said, in an exclusive interview with NBS TV recently.

About Post Author

Milton Emmy Akwam

Milton Emmy Akwam is a Team Leader at both GLCSMS, TND News' parent organisation and the publication. Connect with him on Twitter @MEAkwam Mobile +256 771 556 792 I WhatsApp +256 752 169 448

makwam@tndnewsuganda.com

https://glcsms.org

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