Statement by HE Thabo Mbeki
Former President of the Republic of South Africa
Chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Group
Former President of the Republic of South Africa
Chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Group
Main page for this area of work
Nigeria’s 2023 general elections were “largely peaceful” despite administrative and logistical hurdles at many polling units, according to an independent group of Commonwealth observers.
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Commonwealth observers say Nigeria’s 2023 elections ‘largely peaceful’ with room for improvement
Commonwealth observers are today watching as the voting takes place across Nigeria and millions of people head out to elect their presidential and national assembly representatives.
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Commonwealth team observes voting on election day in Nigeria
In the leadup to Nigeria’s General Elections which are to take place on Saturday February 25th, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, arrived in Abuja for the signing of the National Peace Accord.
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Commonwealth Secretary-General Attends Peace Accord Ahead of Nigeria’s General Elections
The Commonwealth Secretariat hosts the Rule of Law Conversations, a series of webinars and events addressing contemporary legal topics.
Last week the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London held a seminar at Marlborough House on the decriminalisation of Poverty and Status in the Commonwealth.
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We must decriminalise poverty to achieve equal access to justice
The Chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Group to Nigeria, H.E. Thabo Mbeki, has urged the country’s political parties, candidates and their supporters to play their part in ensuring peaceful, transparent and credible elections on Saturday, 25 February 2023.
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Commonwealth Observer Group calls for peaceful elections in Nigeria
25 February 2023 to 25 February 2023
Event
Commonwealth election observers were in Nigeria from 19 February to 2 March for the country’s 2023 general elections.
Former President of South Africa, H.E. Thabo Mbeki, will lead a team of Commonwealth election observers to Nigeria, which will be holding Africa’s largest democratic exercise later this month when it holds general elections on 25 February 2023.
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Former President Mbeki of South Africa to lead Commonwealth observers for Nigerian elections
The Commonwealth Observer Group has expressed the view that Antigua and Barbuda’s general election, held on 18 January 2023, “reflects the will of voters”.
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Commonwealth observers say Antigua and Barbuda’s general election reflects ‘the will of voters’
The Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group in Antigua and Barbuda, H.E. Danny Faure, has encouraged citizens of Antigua and Barbuda to vote in the country’s general election on 18 January 2023.
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Commonwealth observer group encourages Antiguans and Barbudans to vote in upcoming general election
Former President of Seychelles, H.E. Danny Faure, will lead a team of Commonwealth election observers to Antigua and Barbuda for the country’s general election, scheduled for 18 January 2023.
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Commonwealth team to observe Antigua and Barbuda’s 2023 general election
Commonwealth law ministers have adopted a new model law to strengthen rules for protecting and handling the personal data of the 2.5 billion people living in the association’s 56 member countries.
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Commonwealth ministers adopt new model law to strengthen data protection rules
At the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, a Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) will be deployed to observe the country’s general elections scheduled for 6 December 2022.
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Former Kenya Foreign Minister to lead Commonwealth Observer Mission to Dominica
Today after three days of deliberations, the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting 2022 concluded with a set of proposed actions to be taken at the national and Commonwealth level to realise equal access to justice and justice transformation for all by 2030.
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Commonwealth Law Ministers mobilise to deliver justice for all not the few
Today Commonwealth Law Ministers unanimously agreed to recommend the 'Commonwealth Principles on Freedom of Expression and the Role of the Media in Good Governance' to Commonwealth Leaders to consider at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
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Commonwealth Secretary-General welcomes Law Ministers’ unanimous agreement on Media Principles
Law Ministers are meeting in Mauritius to set clear directions on a range of legal, rule of law and justice issues.
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We must transform justice systems to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow, says Commonwealth Secretary-General
A blog by Dr Elizabeth Macharia, Legal Adviser, Law Development Section, Governance and Peace Directorate, Commonwealth Secretariat.
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Blog: The Commonwealth's Plan of Action to Enhance Access to Justice
Following the Commonwealth Secretariat mission to Zimbabwe from 12 - 17 November 2022, Assistant Secretary-General, Prof Luis Franceschi, has said:
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Conclusion of the Commonwealth Mission to Zimbabwe
The Commonwealth Secretariat is in Mauritius this week working with the Government to train local law enforcement and help enhance their relationships with the diverse communities of the country through the teaching of applied human rights principles in policing.
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Commonwealth trains over 500 police in Mauritius on protecting human rights
The Commonwealth Secretariat is today confirming that a delegation, led by the Assistant Secretary-General, Prof. Luis Franceschi, will be visiting Harare, Zimbabwe, from Saturday 12 November until Thursday, 17 November 2022.
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Commonwealth Secretariat mission to visit Zimbabwe
A training workshop on absentee voting for Commonwealth Election Professionals (CEP) based in the Pacific region opened today in Wellington, New Zealand, bringing together 23 participants from 14 Election Management Bodies (EMBs).
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Absentee voting workshop for Commonwealth Pacific election officials kicks off in Wellington
7 November 2022 to 11 November 2022
Training
The Commonwealth Secretariat in partnership with the New Zealand Electoral Commission (NZEC) and the Pacific Islands, Australia, and New Zealand Electoral Administrators (PIANZEA) Network will host a training workshop for Commonwealth Election Professionals (CEP) based in the Pacific region from 7 to 11 November 2022.
A Commonwealth team has commended the people of Lesotho for the atmosphere of peace and calm in which their general election was held. However, the Commonwealth Observer Group expressed concerns that the voter roll caused confusion and disenfranchised voters in some areas.
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Lesotho polling calm, but voter roll needs review, say Commonwealth observers
The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) to Zambia has today released its final report on the 2021 general elections, which saw Hakainde Hichilema become the country’s seventh president.
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Commonwealth Observer Group publishes final report on Zambia’s 2021 elections