Head of ECOWAS electoral observer mission, Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang (3rd from left) and Dago Yabré, president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) of Togo (3rd from right) meet to discuss smooth running of the upcoming legislative elections. Photo credit: ECOWAS/CEDEAO
Efforts are in top gear by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) electoral observation mission to monitor the upcoming legislative and regional elections in Togo scheduled for April 29. The head of the mission and former Vice-President of the Gambia, Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, met on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Lomé, with the forty (40) observers of this mission.
Speaking with the team, the former Vice-President urged them to act professionally and impartially on the ground. “We are here to observe scrutiny, not to give directives or impose decisions,” she advised.
She defended the peaceful holding of the legislative and regional elections on April 29, 2024, highlighting that these should contribute to the development and prosperity of Togo.
The decision by the Togolese government to conduct the elections so close to the recent constitutional reforms by the legislature has raised questions about the transparency of the upcoming elections and has stirred criticisms among the public of the reforms, which many say was approved without widespread public consultations.
Political observers and government critics have called on international and regional organs to monitor the electoral process and ensure that the vote represents the people’s will. This, many say, puts immense pressure on the ECOWAS team to be transparent in its post-election report.
The observers were briefed on the objectives of the mission, the socio-political and security situation in Togo, as well as ongoing electoral operations. They received details about the observation methodology and the field implementation plan. ECOWAS observers were deployed in the Greater Lomé Autonomous District and the five (5) regions of the country: Maritime, Plateau, Central, Savanna and Kara.
Jallow-Tambajang also paid a courtesy call on the president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) of Togo, Dago Yabré. The civic education of voters and the communication strategy implemented by CENI to ensure the smooth running and success of the ballot were central themes in the discussions between the two personalities.
In the afternoon, he participated in an information session on the preparations and development of the legislative and regional elections on April 29, 2024, organized jointly by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Territorial Administration, Security, as well as CENI.
Being the first woman to lead an election observation mission for ECOWAS, Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang praised the high number of women among ECOWAS observers deployed to Togo, highlighting the crucial role the organisation plays in including women in leadership and all professional spheres in the region.
