The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) was deployed to observe the conduct of the second round of the Presidential Election in the Republic of Madagascar which was held on 19 December 2018.
SADC acknowledges the release of the provisional results of that election by the National Independent Electoral Commission of Madagascar (CENI) on 27 December 2018.
In its Preliminary Statement issued on 21 December 2018, the SEOM observed that the 2018 Presidential Election was conducted in orderly peaceful, and professional manner in line with the Constitution, electoral laws and other relevant laws of the Republic of Madagascar.
SADC reiterates its commendation of the people of Madagascar for their exemplary conduct before, and on election day, and urge them to display political maturity as the High Constitutional Court of Madagascar is now seized with the process of announcing the final result.
SADC emphasises the critical need for the two candidates in the Presidential Election to respect due process, lead by example, and refrain from making any pronouncements that undermine the authority of the CENI and the High Constitutional Court in this post-election period.
In this context SADC reiterates the significance of any electoral grievance held by any stakeholder to be channelled through the legal process, and with due respect to the institutions, the people, and the peaceful development, of the Republic of Madagascar.
His Excellency, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia and Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation
29 December, 2018
