Retired president Uhuru Kenyatta.IMAGE |Courtesy
In Summary:
- Former President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed to lead AU Election Observation Mission in South Africa.
- The Mission will collaborate with various stakeholders and release preliminary findings on May 31, 2024.
Kenya’s former President Uhuru Kenyatta has been appointed to head the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) for the upcoming general elections in South Africa. The African Union Commission (AUC) selected Kenyatta for this crucial role as South Africans prepare to vote on May 29, 2024.
The AU’s election observation team consists of 60 members, including ambassadors, officials from election management bodies, members of African civil society organizations, election experts, human rights specialists, gender and media experts, and representatives of youth organizations.
The Mission is set to engage with state authorities, the Independent Electoral Commission, political parties, the media, civil society organizations, and representatives from the international community.
“The Mission will also interact with other election observation missions deployed to observe the 2024 General Elections in South Africa,” the AU stated in a press release.
Following the voting process, the Mission led by Kenyatta will present its preliminary findings and recommendations regarding the elections on May 31, 2024.
Delegates for this mission come from 24 countries, including Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
South Africa’s 27 million registered voters are anticipated to participate in what is expected to be the closest election in three decades of democracy. Over 50 parties are competing for seats in parliament, which will subsequently appoint the president.
Among the prominent candidates in the presidential race are incumbent President Cyril Ramaphosa, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, former President Jacob Zuma (barred by court), and John Steenhuisen.