The deployment of an Election Observation Mission for the fifth time reflects the EU’s continued commitment to supporting competitive, transparent, and peaceful elections in Sierra Leone. Previously the European Union observed the 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2018 elections, as well as deployed an Election Follow-up Mission in 2021.

The EU EOM Sierra Leone 2023 is led by Chief Observer Evin Incir, a Member of the European Parliament from Sweden, and at its full strength will comprise some 100 observers, drawn from 26 EU Member States, Canada and Norway. On 11 May a core team of 10 election experts arrived in Freetown and will be joined by 28 Long-Term Observers (LTOs) on 20 May. LTOs will be deployed across the country to observe election preparations and the campaign. Closer to the election day, 40 Short-Term Observers will re-enforce the mission, as will a delegation of members of the European Parliament and Locally-Recruited Short-Term Observers from the EU Member States accredited to Sierra Leone.

The EU EOM mandate is to assess the extent to which the elections comply with Sierra Leone’s laws as well as with regional and international standards and commitments Sierra Leone has made regarding democratic elections. The EU EOM will observe and assess:

• The legal framework and its implementation
• The impartiality and the performance of the election administration
• The degree of an open and fairly contested campaign, campaign finance
• The role of state institutions and civil society
• The universal franchise afforded to voters, especially to women, youth and vulnerable groups.
• The conduct of the media, including social media; access for political parties and candidates to state and private media
• The use of election technology in the electoral process and the result management system
• Voting, counting and tabulation, as well as the announcement of the results
• The complaints and appeals process.

In line with the EU methodology on election observation, the mission will issue a preliminary statement and hold a press conference in Freetown two days after the election day. A final report, including recommendations for future electoral processes, will be presented after the finalisation of the entire electoral process.

EU EOMs aim to promote democracy and human rights in a framework of cooperation with third countries. EU Election Observation Missions are financed exclusively from European Union budgets and are independent in its findings from the EU Delegation to Sierra Leone, EU member states and all EU institutions.