JOINT DECLARATION ON THE 31ST AUGUST 2012 GENERAL ELECTIONS OF THE
REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA
WE, THE AFRICAN UNION (AU), SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC), ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF THE CENTRAL AFRICAN STATES (ECCAS), INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE GREAT LAKES REGION (ICGLR), ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS FORUM OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (ECF-SADC) AND THE COMMUNITY OF PORTUGUESE SPEAKING COUNTRIES (CPLP).
FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF THE GENERAL ELECTIONS HELD ON 31ST OF AUGUST 2012, AND INDEPTH DISCUSSIONS THAT TOOK PLACE AMONG THE ABOVE-MENTIONED OBSERVATION MISSIONS;
IN LIGHT OF: THE OAU DECLARATION ON THE PRINCIPLES GOVERNING DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN AFRICA ADOPTED IN JULY 2002 IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA;
THE SADC PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES GOVERNING DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS OF
2004;
THE ECCAS DECLARATION ON ELECTORAL SUPPORT TO MEMBER STATES OF 7TH JUNE, 2005;
THE ICGLR PROTOCOL ON DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE;
THE ECF‐SADC PRINCIPLES OF ELECTION MANAGEMENT, MONITORING AND OBSERVATION (PEMMO) OF 2003; AND
THE CPLP HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT RESOLUTION ON ELECTORAL OBSERVATION IN MEMBER STATES OF 22ND JULY, 2010;
THE OBSERVER MISSIONS DO HEREBY:
1. CONGRATULATE THE PEOPLE OF ANGOLA FOR EXERCISING THEIR CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY IN A PEACEFUL AND ORDERLY MANNER, AND DETERMINATION TO HOLD THE GENERAL ELECTIONS ON THE 31ST OF AUGUST 2012 IN WAYS THAT CONSOLIDATE PEACE, SECURITY AND STABILITY, ENHANCE RECONCILIATION, BOOST THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND STRENGHTEN THE FOUNDATION FOR FURTHER SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT;
2. APPRECIATE THE WILL, ENTHUSIASM AND LARGE TURN OUT OF THE ANGOLAN PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE HIGH PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN AND YOUTH IN THE ELECTIONS;
3. SALUTE THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION FOR THE SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY OF THE ELECTIONS, AND THE EFFECTIVE INTRODUCTION OF NEW INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS THE
PROFESSIONALISM OF THE POLLING STAFF IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ELECTIONS;
4. WELCOME THE EFFORTS MADE BY THE ANGOLAN AUTHORITIES AND STAKEHOLDERS TO FACILITATE THE FREE EXERCISE OF THE ANGOLAN PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO VOTE; AND
5. ENCOURAGE THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES TO CONTINUOUSLY AND ACTIVELY ENGAGE NATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS TO ENHANCE COMMUNICATION AND DIALOGUE THROUGHOUT THE ELECTORAL PROCESSES.
6. HOWEVER, THE ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS NOTED THAT THE FOLLOWING AREAS, AMONGST OTHERS, NEED IMPROVEMENT IN FUTURE ELECTIONS:
(i) TIMELY ACCREDITATION FOR BOTH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS;
(ii) TIMELY ACCREDITATION OF POLITICAL PARTY AGENTS;
(iii) FACILITATION OF THE EXERCISE OF THE VOTING RIGHTS OF ANGOLAN CITIZENS IN THE DIASPORA; ETC.
7. APPEAL TO ALL ANGOLAN STAKEHOLDERS TO CONTINUE TO SHOW A HIGH LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY BY ACCEPTING THE OUTCOME OF THE POLLS. SHOULD THERE BE ANY
DISPUTES, DUE LEGAL PROCESSES SHOULD BE FOLLOWED; AND,
8. FINALLY, THE OBSERVER MISSIONS, ON BEHALF OF THEIR RESPECTIVE INSTITUTIONS, WILL STAY MOBILISED TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF THE ANGOLAN PEOPLE IN THE CONSOLIDATION OF THEIR DEMOCRACY.
DONE IN LUANDA, ON THIS 2ND DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2012
HEAD OF AU EOM : H.E. Pedro Verona PIRES
HEAD OF SEOM : Hon. Bernard K. MEMBE
HEAD OF ECCAS EOM : Dr. Pierre Simeon ATHOMO NDONG
HEAD OF ICGLR EOM : Mr Stephen ONGARIA
HEAD OF ECF-SADCEOM : Comm. Paulo CUINICA
HEAD OF CPLP EOM : Dr. Leonardo SIMAO
Source: au.int
