The European Union announced on Friday its intention to dispatch an observation mission (EOM) to Liberia in preparation for the upcoming general election scheduled for October.
Established in 1822 as a haven for liberated slaves from the Americas, Liberia is currently in the process of recuperating from a military coup in 1980 and a 14-year-long civil war that concluded in 2003.
Josep Borrell, the European Union’s head of foreign policy, has announced that Andreas Schieder, a representative from Austria within the European Parliament, will head the mission.
“The deployment of this Election Observation Mission confirms our long-standing commitment to supporting competitive, transparent and peaceful elections in Liberia, the oldest democracy in Africa,” said Borrell.
“The European Union is a close partner of Liberia and is committed to continue its support to democratic governance.”
The initial and central team of the mission is scheduled to land in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, on August 27, while additional members will join at a later time.
Back in January, Liberia’s President George Weah, a former renowned international soccer player, declared his intention to seek reelection following a first term that was overshadowed by accusations of corruption amid an economic decline.
