A peaceful and well-organised poll, but concerns regarding political participation and media freedoms
Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma today released the Final Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group which observed the 9 August Presidential elections in Rwanda.
In issuing the report, he said: "The Commonwealth Observer Group recognised that Rwanda is still undergoing a process of national reconstruction and national reconciliation and it is to the country’s credit that it has embarked on a process of consolidating its electoral democracy“.
The Secretary-General went on to say: "For these elections the Group found that some of the key benchmarks for democratic elections were met, but others were not.”
“The Group found that overall the poll was well organised and peaceful. However, there were some concerns regarding the lack of transparency of the results consolidation, a lack of critical opposition voices and problems faced by some media outlets.”
The Secretary-General also stressed that, “the Commonwealth Secretariat stands ready to assist the Government of Rwanda to help further strengthen the democratic process and democratic institutions in the country”.
Note to Editors: The Report was completed and signed by all members of the Commonwealth Observer Group prior to their departure from Rwanda. It was presented to the Commonwealth Secretary-General by the Chair of the Group, H.E. Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, former Prime Minister of Tanzania and former Secretary-General of the OAU. Before being made public, it has been distributed to the Government of Rwanda, political parties, the National Electoral Commission and all Commonwealth member governments.
In issuing the report, he said: "The Commonwealth Observer Group recognised that Rwanda is still undergoing a process of national reconstruction and national reconciliation and it is to the country’s credit that it has embarked on a process of consolidating its electoral democracy“.
The Secretary-General went on to say: "For these elections the Group found that some of the key benchmarks for democratic elections were met, but others were not.”
Final report
Click here to readThe Secretary-General also stressed that, “the Commonwealth Secretariat stands ready to assist the Government of Rwanda to help further strengthen the democratic process and democratic institutions in the country”.
Note to Editors: The Report was completed and signed by all members of the Commonwealth Observer Group prior to their departure from Rwanda. It was presented to the Commonwealth Secretary-General by the Chair of the Group, H.E. Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, former Prime Minister of Tanzania and former Secretary-General of the OAU. Before being made public, it has been distributed to the Government of Rwanda, political parties, the National Electoral Commission and all Commonwealth member governments.
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