24th October, 2024
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Former President Goodluck Jonathan is scheduled to depart for Gaborone on Friday to lead the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) for Botswana’s general elections, set for 30th October 2024.
Jonathan will head a team of distinguished leaders, including members of the African Union Permanent Representative Committee, the Pan African Parliament (PAP), the African Governance Platform, election management bodies, independent election experts, civil society organisations, and representatives of women and youth, all forming part of the mission.
While in Gaborone, Jonathan is expected to hold consultations with various stakeholders, including the country’s leadership, political parties, civil society groups, the media, and the diplomatic community. These discussions aim to promote a credible, transparent, and peaceful electoral process before, during, and after the elections.
In a letter to Jonathan, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, praised the former President’s pan-African credentials and strong commitment to democracy and credible electoral processes in Africa, which were key factors in his selection for the role.
The upcoming election will be Botswana’s 13th general election since gaining independence in 1965. Voters will elect 61 Members of Parliament and 609 local council representatives.
This marks the fifth time Jonathan will lead an AU election observation mission, having previously overseen elections in Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe since 2015. Additionally, he has led missions for the Commonwealth, ECOWAS, WAEF, the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), and the International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP) since leaving office as Nigeria’s President in 2015.
