Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is set to travel to Gaborone, Botswana, on Friday to lead the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) for the upcoming general elections scheduled for October 30, 2024. This was obtained by TheMediaGood Newspaper in a statement by his Special Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze.
Former President of Nigeria
Jonathan, known for his commitment to fostering democratic processes in Africa, will oversee a diverse team that includes members from the African Union Permanent Representative Committee, the Pan African Parliament, the African Governance Platform, election management bodies, independent election experts, and representatives from civil society organizations, including women and youth groups.
During his time in Gaborone, the former president will consult with key stakeholders, including the country’s leadership, political parties, civil society, media representatives, and the diplomatic community. His mission aims to promote a credible, transparent, and peaceful electoral environment before, during, and after election day.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Mahamat, noted in his letter to Jonathan that the former president’s “pan-African credentials and strong commitment to democracy and credible electoral processes in Africa” make him an ideal leader for such missions.
This general election in Botswana will be the 13th since the country gained independence in 1965, involving the election of 61 Members of Parliament and 609 Local Council Seats. For Jonathan, this mission marks the fifth time he has led AU election observation teams across Africa since 2015, having previously overseen missions in Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
Since leaving office in 2015, he has also led various international election observation missions under organizations such as the Commonwealth, ECOWAS, WAEF, the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), and the International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP).