The European Union on Wednesday launched a 22-member election observation mission to monitor Lesotho’s general elections set for October 7.
The mission is expected to be “permanently present in all 10 districts of Lesotho for six weeks,” according to chief observer Ignazio Corrao.
“We are deploying 11 teams of Long-Term Observers, each with two members, who will assess every aspect of the electoral process, including the campaigning by political parties, and the preparations for the elections across Lesotho,” Corrao said, a Member of the European Parliament from Italy.
The EU mission started its activities in Maseru on August 27 with the arrival of a core team of nine experts.
The mission would be reinforced around election day with 30 short-term observers as well as a delegation from the European Parliament.
An additional number of representatives from EU States’ diplomatic representations would add to this contingent.
Lesotho will hold its general elections on October 7 in the latest round of polling in the landlocked southern African country. At least 53 political parties are registered take part in the general elections.
Lawmakers elect a prime minister to head government, and the premier usually comes from the party with the majority in 120-seat parliament.
The mountainous kingdom of two million people, entirely surrounded by South Africa, has suffered repeated bouts of instability and army interference in politics.
Between 2012 and 2017, Lesotho held three elections that resulted in fractious coalitions and turbulence.
JN/APA