A uniform to identify African Union Election Observers in polling centers

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, December 13, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Department of Political Affairs of the African Union has provided some visibility and information materials to the African Union Observers Mission mandated by the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mr. Jean PING, to monitor the Legislative Election scheduled for 11 December 2011 in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire.

The materials were distributed to all the over 16 AU Observers on 8 December 2011, by Mr. Guy Cyrille Tapoko, Election Officer in the Department of Political Affairs and Coordinator of the African Union Observers Mission to Cote d'Ivoire. They consisted of a jacket, a T-Shirt, a hat, carrying the symbols of the African Union as well as some pamphlets and flyers of useful tips and guiding principles on elections.

The AU observers were also briefed on the general context of the elections and the political campaigns throughout the country as well as the deployment plan of the Mission.

Addressing the group, the interim Head of Mission Mr. Roland KPOTSRA YAO, former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Togo, and Mr, Ambroise Niyonsaba, Special Representative of the African Union Chairperson in Cote d'Ivoire, reassured the observers of the security and safety measures put in place by the joint AU-ONUCI team to ensure free, fair and transparent parliamentary elections.

Upon receiving their accreditations established by the National Election Commission of Cote d'Ivoire, the AU observers left this morning, 10 December 2011, to their respective monitoring locations following a deployment plan elaborated by the African Union support staff in collaboration with the AU Liaison office in Abidjan.

It is worth recalling that, more that 1000 candidates from about 35 political parties are vying for the 255 parliamentary seats throughout the country. The African Union Observers are therefore expected to focus on the consistency, transparency, fairness and good conduct of the December 11 Legislative Election in Cote d'Ivoire. To help them achieve their mission successfully, the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) is providing technical assistance to the team.

JOURNALISTS ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.

For more information, visit the AU website: www.africa-union.org