Obasanjo heads AU Observer Mission to Senegal

The African Union (AU) on Tuesday appointed former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the head of its Election Observer Mission to Senegal to monitor February 26 Presidential election in the country.

Yaye Sene, a Communications officer at the Commission, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondent in Addis Ababa that the Mission comprised representatives of Pan African Parliament, leaders of some Independent Electoral Commissions and Members of the AU Permanent Representative Committee.

Others are representatives of Human Rights Organisations and African Civil Society.

Ms. Sene said the Mission would operate within the framework of Durban Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa, adopted in July 2002, by the Heads of State and Government of the AU.

She said the Mission had already established its secretariat at Radisson Blu Hotel, Dakar on February 18, for comprehensive observation of the conduct of the election.

Meanwhile, following reports of pre-election violence in Senegal, Yayi Boni, the Chairperson of the AU, has called on all political stakeholders to remain calm.

He urged them to embark on an inclusive political dialogue in order to ensure a peaceful and transparent electoral process.