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Former President Ernest Bai Koroma will on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 depart Freetown for Nairobi, Kenya where he will lead the African Union Elections Observer Mission (AUEOM).
This follows an invitation by the Chairman of the African Union (AU) Commission, HE Moussa Faki Mahamat, to Sierra Leone’s former president to lead the AUEOM in that East African nation.
Kenya will be holding its general elections on 9 August which are being stiffly contested by four presidential candidates. The aspirants are vying to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta whose second term ends in August.
The AU is therefore keen on ensuring that the polls are peaceful, credible and the outcome widely accepted. As such, the continental body is once again drawing on President Koroma’s vast experience in handling such highly contested elections.
“Given your vast experience and commitment to promoting democracy and peace on the African Continent, I wish to invite you to lead the AUEOM to the Republic of Kenya..,” stated HE Mahamat in his invitation letter.
It could be noted that the Sierra Leonean statesman has led the AU exemplarily through elections observations missions in Namibia and Zambia. He has also successfully led ECOWAS elections observation missions to Togo, Benin and The Gambia.
“The whole of Africa is wishing Kenya well in its critical democratic journey. I am optimistic that the leaders and all Kenyans, will emerge from this election stronger, more democratic and more united,” said President Koroma .
In Kenya, President Koroma and his team will engage various stakeholders in government, the Kenyan Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, political parties, civil society, the media, the diplomatic community, and others involved in the electoral process. The AUEOM will include elections experts and diplomats drawn from the AU member states.
The Former President is expected to return home on August 12 2022.
