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ECOWAS to deploy 130 observers during Niger's presidential poll

Xinhua, February 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will send 130 observers to monitor Niger's presidential and legislative elections scheduled for Sunday.

A statement from the regional institution issued Thursday in Cotonou, said the observer mission will be led by Liberia's former interim president, Amos Sawyer.

Its mission will be to ensure good conduct of the electoral process to guarantee free, transparent and credible elections.

Among the 130 observers, there will be 115 short term monitors from ECOWAS countries except Niger, as well as 15 long term monitors who are specialized in matters of security, gender, electoral operations and constitutional law.

"The observers will be deployed in all regions of the country to monitor all pre-electoral, electoral and post-electoral operations and comment on the conduct of the electoral process," the statement explained.

Fifteen candidates are contesting for the first round of Niger's presidential elections, including outgoing president Mahamadou Issoufou who has been in power since 2011. Endit