Maldives (Commonwealth Union)_ The esteemed former President of the Republic of Seychelles, H.E. Danny Faure, has been entrusted with the leadership of a distinguished team of Commonwealth election observers who will be dispatched to the Republic of the Maldives. This island nation is poised to conduct a presidential election on September 9, 2023. Significantly, this marks the inaugural deployment of a Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) to oversee an election within the Maldives since the nation’s re-entry into the Commonwealth in February 2020. The initiative has been undertaken following an invitation extended by the Elections Commission of the Maldives, prompting the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Honourable Patricia Scotland KC, to establish this crucial observer group.
For the forthcoming electoral event, a total of 282,395 eligible voters possess the right to cast their votes, thereby selecting their preferred candidate for the presidential role. With a resolute dedication to democratic principles and the upholding of the rule of law, the Rt Honourable Patricia Scotland KC expressed her gratification at the formation of the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) for the impending election in the Maldives. This collective reaffirms the steadfast commitment of the Commonwealth to nurturing transparent democratic processes and amplifying the voices of citizens. Emanating from the enduring ethos of the Commonwealth, this presence within the Maldives underlines an unwavering faith in the facilitation of all-encompassing, transparent, and reputable elections. The COG is underpinned by the Charter’s values that champion democracy, respect for fundamental rights, and the advancement of peaceful societies.
The Secretary General stated, “In the spirit of our Commonwealth’s enduring commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law, I am pleased to announce the establishment of a Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) for the forthcoming election in the Maldives. Our Commonwealth family stands united in its commitment to supporting democratic processes, promoting transparency, and ensuring that the voices of citizens are heard. The Commonwealth’s presence in the Maldives reasserts our unwavering belief in the conduct of inclusive, transparent, and reliable elections. We will be guided by the values enshrined in our Charter, promoting democracy, respecting fundamental rights, and contributing to the advancement of peaceful societies.”
In acknowledging the devoted engagement of COG members in this significant undertaking, Secretary-General Scotland extended her appreciation to each observer for their willingness to contribute to the Commonwealth’s cause in this capacity. Constituting a constellation of diverse expertise and experiences drawn from various Commonwealth member countries, the COG comprises 11 prominent individuals with backgrounds in politics, diplomacy, law, human rights, gender equality, and election administration. Scheduled to arrive in Malé, Maldives, on the 2nd of September and depart on the 15th, the Group will be bolstered by the supportive efforts of a staff team from the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The members of the Commonwealth Observer Group, listed alphabetically according to their country of origin, are as follows:
- H.E. Danny Faure – Chairperson, Former President of the Republic of Seychelles;
- Justice (Rtd.) Jackton Boma Ojwang – Retired Supreme Court Justice, Kenya;
- Mrs Cronisa Baguga – Deputy Commissioner, Nauru Electoral Commission, Nauru;
- Hon Maryan Street – Former Cabinet Minister, New Zealand;
- Ms Yemi Adamolekun – Executive Director, Enough is Enough, Nigeria;
- Ms Cynthia Barrow-Giles – Professor, Constitutional Governance and Politics, University of the West Indies, Saint Lucia;
- Ambassador Alari Awahnatu Cole – Member, ECOWAS Council of the Wise and Former Ambassador and High Commissioner, Sierra Leone;
- Mr Mahdev Mohan – Former Nominated Member of Parliament and Lawyer, Singapore;
- Professor Mandla Mchunu – Former Chief Electoral Officer, Electoral Commission, South Africa;
- Mrs Bobbi Rogers – Manager, Corporate Communications, Elections and Boundaries Commission, Trinidad and Tobago;
- Ms Anji Hunter – Senior Public Relations Adviser, United Kingdom.
Functioning as an autonomous and impartial entity, the Group’s mandate encompasses the observation of the electoral preparations, polling, counting procedures, results processing, and the broader electoral background. The observers are entrusted with an assessment of the entire process, coupled with the potential formulation of recommendations aimed at fortifying the electoral system within the Maldives. Before their deployment across the Maldives, the Group is slated to conduct briefings with electoral authorities, political factions, law enforcement agencies, the diplomatic community, media representatives, as well as civil society organizations advocating for the rights of women, youth, and disabled individuals.
Once their mandate is fulfilled, the COG will provide an extensive report encapsulating their observations and recommendations to the Commonwealth Secretary-General. This report will subsequently be submitted to the Government of the Republic of the Maldives, the Elections Commission of the Maldives, the leadership of political parties, and fellow Commonwealth member governments. Ultimately, this report will be made publicly accessible, thereby underscoring the transparency and accountability intrinsic to the democratic process.
