AUC Chairperson Approves the Deployment of an African Union Observation Mission to May 18, 2014 Presidential Election run off in the Republic of Guinea Bissau

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 9, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Following an invitation from the National Electoral Commission (CNE) of Guinea Bissau, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission has approved the deployment of an African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) to the Republic of Guinea Bissau's Presidential election run off scheduled for 18 May 2014.

The AUEOM will be led by former President of the Republic of Mozambique, H.E. Joaquim A. Chissano. The mission comprises forty (40) trained African Union observers drawn from various African institutions including members of Pan-African Parliament, human right organizations and civil society organizations in Africa. This Mission will be deployed on 10 May 2014 and will remain in the country until the announcement of final results.

The AUEOM has a mandate to observe the electoral process in South Africa and will operate in accordance with relevant AU instruments for election observation, such as: the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance; the AU/OAU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa; and the AU Guidelines for Elections Observation and Monitoring Missions. The Mission will present its preliminary findings shortly after Election Day, when a preliminary statement will be released. This will be followed by a detailed and comprehensive final report, approximately two months after the elections.