Latest content: Promoting Democracy

The Commonwealth Group observing the presidential run-off election in Maldives has praised the country’s Elections Commission for implementing some of the recommendations it made from the first round of voting.

The Commonwealth Observer Group is present as Maldivians, both at home and in the diaspora, vote for a second time to elect their President after none of the candidates won the required percent of the vote in the first round held on 9 September.

Commonwealth election observers will be deployed to the Maldives for the second round of voting in the 2023 Presidential Election. Voters will be returning to the polls after none of the candidates secured more than 50 percent of the votes in the first round held on 9 September.

Today in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the 23rd Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) brought together foreign affairs ministers and distinguished representatives from member states to discuss critical global challenges and chart a course for a more interconnected and resilient future.

The 63rd Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) met in New York this week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss developments in member states.

Maldivians eagerly stood in line to vote at 574 polling stations across 566 islands in the country’s fourth presidential elections since the country's turn to a democratic path in 2008.

The Chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Group, H.E. Danny Faure, has said that the presence of Commonwealth observers at the 2023 Presidential Election in Maldives “affirms the Commonwealth’s continuing solidarity with the people of Maldives”.

Assessment of voting process is that it was well conducted and peaceful, however, the group raised a number of issues that could impact on the credibility, transparency and inclusivity of the process

Former President of the Republic of Seychelles, H.E. Danny Faure, will lead a team of Commonwealth election observers to the Republic of Maldives, which will be holding a presidential election on 9 September 2023.

The Chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Group has called on all Zimbabwean political parties and their supporters to uphold standards for credible, inclusive and transparent elections.

On 23 August 2023, Zimbabweans will vote to elect councillors, members of parliament, and a president. Ambassador Amina Chawahir Mohamed, former Cabinet Secretary for Education and Foreign Affairs of Kenya, will lead a team of Commonwealth election observers to Zimbabwe for the upcoming election.

The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) to Kenya has today released its final report on the 2022 general elections, which saw William Ruto elected as the country’s fifth president.

The Commonwealth Secretariat has launched a set of new foundational online courses designed to equip law enforcement officials, prosecutors and judicial officials with the skills necessary to investigate, prosecute and adjudicate over cybercrime cases involving electronic evidence.

The Commonwealth Observer Group in Sierra Leone has welcomed the large turn-out of voters for the country’s multi-tier elections held on 24th June, and found that polling day was generally peaceful, despite heightened tensions during the week.

Eager voters lined the streets early on Saturday morning, at more than 11,800 polling stations across Sierra Leone, to have their say in who will represent them in the country’s local councils, parliament and presidential office.

The Commonwealth Observer Group has launched election observation activities in Sierra Leone with a call for peaceful elections that will reflect the will of the people.

The Former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E Prof Yemi Osinbajo will lead a team of distinguished experts in observing the general elections in Sierra Leone on 24th June 2023.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, KC, will attend an Electoral Pledge signing ceremony on Thursday, 25th May, at the Bintumani International Conference Centre in Freetown, Sierra Leone, ahead of next month’s general elections.

The Commonwealth Secretariat has organised a workshop in Trinidad and Tobago this week for Caribbean and Americas election administrators to examine issues impacting electoral integrity, transparency and inclusiveness, with the aim of enhancing confidence in the democratic process.

Dr Roger Koranteng, adviser and Head, Public Sector Governance, at the Commonwealth Secretariat received the International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award at the Themis Awards.

Foreign Ministers from across the Commonwealth met yesterday for the 22nd annual Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM). The meeting was held in person at the Commonwealth Secretariat headquarters, Marlborough House, in London.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, in her keynote speech at the 23rd Commonwealth Law Conference (CLC) held in Goa, India this week, called on lawmakers and the legal community to use their skills to take on the challenge of protecting the environment, improving governance, enhancing freedoms and enabling the most vulnerable.