Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta joined South African voters in line to observe the polling process as part of the African Union Election Observer Mission (AUEOM) in the country on Wednesday, May 28, 2024.
Uhuru has been in South Africa meeting the various stakeholders involved in the electoral process as clergy, the police service and civil rights groups in the run-up to the voting day that occurred on Wednesday.
“President (Rtd) Uhuru Kenyatta, the head of the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM), joined other international observers at polling stations as South Africa’s General Elections commenced this morning. This election is a significant milestone in South Africa’s democratic journey, with a record 27.79 million registered voters, the highest number since the end of apartheid,” a statement from the mission noted.
President (Rtd) Uhuru Kenyatta, the head of the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) joins other international observers at various polling stations as voting commences in South Africa. pic.twitter.com/3Jr3y6tkf9
— Office of the 4th President of Kenya. (@4thPresidentKE) May 30, 2024
Uhuru’s role
The AUEOM comprises 60 short-term observers (STOs) drawn from ambassadors accredited to the African Union, officials of election management bodies and members of African civil society organisations.
Additionally, it includes African election experts, human rights specialists, gender and media experts, and representatives of youth organizations.
The observers are drawn from 24 countries which include Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
While only 11 per cent of the results were released by the morning of Thursday, May 30, 2024, the full results are expected to be announced over the weekend. The African National Congress is leading with 43%, followed by the Democratic Alliance with 26%.
The Julius Malema-led Economic Freedom Fighters and former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) trail at 8 per cent each.
The Mission will release its preliminary findings and recommendations on the conduct of the elections on May 31, 2024, in a press conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. A final and comprehensive report will be released within two months from the date of announcement of final election results.
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