Uhuru Lands in South Africa For Key International Mission

Former president Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday, May 24, arrived in South Africa for the observation of the country's general elections.

The retired Head of State is leading the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM), which will oversee the polls coming up on May 29, 2024.

According to the African Union Commission (AUC), the team arrived in South Africa on Thursday, May 23, and it will interact with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa and other election observation missions deployed to observe the election.

AUC chairperson Moussa Faki approved the deployment of the Mission at the invitation of the government of South Africa.

"At the invitation of the Government of South Africa and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, approved the deployment of the short-term AUEOM to assess and report on the conduct of this election," read part of the statement by AUC.

"The AUEOM is led by H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, former President of the Republic of Kenya and is comprised of 60 short-term observers (STOs) drawn from ambassadors accredited to the African Union, officials of election management bodies, members of African civil society organisations, African election experts, human rights specialists, gender and media experts, and representatives of youth organizations," the statement further read.

Uhuru's team will base its assessment on the legal framework governing elections in the Republic of South Africa and the OAU/AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections.

The Mission will later release its preliminary findings and recommendations on the conduct of the elections on May 31 in a press conference in Johannesburg.

"A final and comprehensive report will be released within two months from the date of announcement of final election results and will be posted on the AU Commission website," AUC stated.