2023 Liberia Elections: ECOWAS, AU ends consultation with major stakeholders

August 1 (Newshour.com.ng) – A joint Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) pre-electoral fact-finding mission to Liberia has ended consultations with major stakeholders on Thursday, July 27, 2023.
The Pre-electoral fact-finding team touched base with Government, National Elections Commission, the Judiciary, Parliament, Political Parties, Civil Society Organizations, the Media, Inter-Faith groups, Security Agencies and Development Partners.
During working sessions, the delegation underscored the need for Liberian stakeholders to sustain their efforts aimed at promoting transparent, peaceful, non-violent, inclusive, and credible elections in October 2023.
The mission was Co-led by Professor Attahiru Jega, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria for ECOWAS, and Ambassador Calixte Mbari, Head of Democracy, Elections and Constitutionalism of the African Union Commission.
In a statement, they pointed out that the deployment of the Mission was in line with relevant provisions of ECOWAS and African Union instruments for the assessment of state of preparedness for elections.
Other members of the Joint Mission included Ambassador Haja Alari Cole, a member of the ECOWAS Council of the Wise, Ms. Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Mr. Elyse Ouedraogo, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission of Burkina Faso, Mr. Muhammad Sulaiman Isa, Deputy Ambassador of Nigeria to ECOWAS, Dr Cyriaque Agnekethom, ECOWAS Director of Peacekeeping and Regional Security, as well as a joint technical team from the ECOWAS and AU Commissions.
The delegation will submit the report of its findings and recommendations to determine the electoral support to be provided to Liberia by the AU and EU toward ensuring a credible and successful electoral process in October 2023.