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.
This will be the first Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) to observe an election in the country since Maldives re-joined the Commonwealth in February 2020.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, constituted a COG following an invitation from the Elections Commission of Maldives.
There are 282,395 eligible voters in this year's election who will have the right to cast their ballot for their choice of presidential candidate.
Enduring support for democratic governance
Commenting on the COG, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC said:
The Commonwealth's presence in Maldives reaffirms our steadfast belief in the conduct of inclusive, transparent, and credible elections. We will be guided by the values enshrined in our Charter, promoting democracy, respecting fundamental rights, and contributing to the advancement of peaceful societies."
Secretary-General Scotland acknowledged the commitment of the COG members to this important mission and extended gratitude to each observer for their willingness to serve the Commonwealth in this capacity.
Commonwealth Observer Group
Reflecting the diverse expertise and experience of Commonwealth member countries, the COG consists of 11 eminent individuals from various backgrounds, including politicians, diplomats and experts in law, human rights, gender equality and election administration.
Observers will arrive in Malé, Maldives, on 2 September and depart the country on the 15th. The Group will be supported by a staff team from the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The Commonwealth Observer Group members, in alphabetical order by country name, are:
- H.E. Danny Faure, Chairperson, Former President of the Republic of Seychelles
- Justice (Rtd.) Jackton Boma Ojwang, Retired Supreme Court Justice, Kenya
- Mrs Cronisa Baguga, Deputy Commissioner, Nauru Electoral Commission, Nauru
- Hon Maryan Street, Former Cabinet Minister, New Zealand
- Ms Yemi Adamolekun, Executive Director, Enough is Enough, Nigeria
- Ms Cynthia Barrow-Giles, Professor, Constitutional Governance and Politics, University of the West Indies, Saint Lucia
- Ambassador Alari Awahnatu Cole, Member, ECOWAS Council of the Wise and Former Ambassador and High Commissioner, Sierra Leone
- Mr Mahdev Mohan, Former Nominated Member of Parliament and Lawyer, Singapore
- Professor Mandla Mchunu, Former Chief Electoral Officer, Electoral Commission, South Africa
- Mrs Bobbi Rogers, Manager, Corporate Communications, Elections and Boundaries Commission, Trinidad and Tobago
- Ms Anji Hunter, Senior Public Relations Adviser, United Kingdom
Strengthening the Electoral System
The mandate of the Group, which is independent and impartial, is to observe the preparations for the election, the polling, counting and the results process, and the overall electoral environment. The observers will assess the conduct of the process as a whole and, where appropriate, make recommendations for the strengthening of the electoral system in Maldives.
Prior to deployment across Maldives, the Group will hold briefings with the electoral authorities, political parties, law enforcement agencies, the diplomatic community, media and civil society groups representing women, youth and people with disabilities.
Upon fulfilling their mandate, the COG will submit a comprehensive report containing their observations and recommendations to the Commonwealth Secretary-General.
This report will subsequently be shared with the Government of the Republic of Maldives, the Elections Commission of Maldives, political party leadership, and Commonwealth member governments. The report will also later be made public.
Media contact
For further information and media inquiries, please contact :
Yvonne Chin Irving
Communications Consultant
