Elections 2024: International observers point to irregularities in the electoral process

Eleições 2024: Observadores internacionais apontam irregularidades no processo eleitoral

The international election observer missions in Mozambique described the general elections in Mozambique as having taken place in a climate of irregularities, although they were generally peaceful.

Voters were intimidated into voting and there was a lack of transparency in the release of results, according to former Chadian Prime Minister Succés Masra.

"These problems raise questions about public confidence in the process and the independence of the institutions," he said.

Masra called on the National Electoral Commission and the government to ensure a fair, transparent, accurate and timely vote count, "so that the democratic will of Mozambican voters is respected".

For his part, Daniel Twinig of the International Republican Institute (IRI) criticized the time it takes to count the votes and announce the results, recommending that it be reduced.

He said it was too long to wait 15 days for the results of the presidential elections to be announced.

"This is a long time and could weaken public confidence," he said.

And the European Union Mission, through its representative, Laura Ballarín, said the elections were peaceful, but there were cases where the vote counts were slow and disorganized for too long.

"There was a lack of clarity and integrity in some cases. There were a number of folded ballot papers in ten of the polling stations observed, indicating a possible stuffing of the ballot boxes. In 1/3 of the polling stations observed there was no reconciliation of the numbers on the notices. We think it's important that the National Electoral Commission publishes all the original polling station notices online so that all people and political actors have access to this information," he said.

Ballarín also pointed out that the electoral roll was also the target of suspicion on polling day.

"The lack of confidence in the reliability of the electoral roll was notorious, since in several provinces it reflected a higher number of voters than the total voting age population ascertained in the national census," he said.

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