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AU approves deployment of "women-only" election observers to Seychelles

Xinhua, September 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, on Wednesday approved the deployment of a "historic women-only" AU election observation mission to Seychelles.

The deployment of a women-only short-term election observation mission is for the parliamentary elections in Seychelles scheduled for Sept. 8-10, according to a statement from the pan-African bloc.

The Chairperson is pleased to deploy the first ever women-only observation mission in line with AU's commemoration of the "African Year of Human Rights with a Special Focus on the Rights of Women," noted the statement.

The AU election observation mission to Seychelles will be led by Fatuma Ndangiza, former Chairperson of the African Peer Review Panel of Eminent Persons, said the statement, adding that the mission will be dispatched from Sept. 1 to 15.

The overall objective of the AU mission is to provide an accurate and impartial reporting and assessment of the quality of the parliamentary elections in Seychelles.

The mission will also offer recommendations for improvement of future electoral processes in the country based on observer findings; and ensure that the conduct of genuine elections contributes to the consolidation of democratic governance, peace and stability in the country, according to the statement.

The Chairperson has reaffirmed the AU's continued support to the government and people of Seychelles as they strive to consolidate democracy, peace and stability in the country, the statement said. Endit