Elections 2022: CNE invites foreign observers

 Luanda - National Electoral Commission (CNE) will invite nine international entities to observe the general elections in Angola, scheduled for 24 August, 2022.

The decision emerged from the CNE plenary held on Friday,  stating that the entities to be invited are those from  the African Union (AU), European Union (EU),  Southern African Development Community (SADC), Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries ( CPLP) and Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

The invitation is also extensive to the other institutions such as Carter Center,  SADC Electoral Forum, International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGR) and the Conferences of African Jurisdictions, according to CNE spokesperson Lucas Quilundo.

He said that the CNE plenary also approved the date of 24 June, for the beginning of the invitations of electoral observation.

He recalled that, under the terms of the law, the President of the Republic and the CNE are the only entities with their own competence to issue invitations to institutions and personalities as international observers.

The spokesperson explained that election observation, as an activity, starts 30 days before the scheduled election date, that is, the 24th of July, and the process of requesting requests for observation must take place 30 days before the election campaign. .

Recently, the CNE set a limit of 2,000 national observers for the August 24 general elections.

On the other hand, Lucas Quilundo said that once the mapping of polling stations is completed, which will determine the number of polling stations to be installed nationwide, the recruitment of people who will work on election day will begin.

He added that after the mapping is completed, the process of accreditation of other electoral agents will begin, namely, the delegates on the list of political parties.

As for the early vote, he explained that the members of the plenary rejected its implementation in these general elections, as it imposes significant challenges in logistical terms, given the lack of time.

Angola will hold the fifth general elections, to choose the President of the Republic and the MPs.