SADC Secretariat disassociates itself from media reports that SADC election observers will visit the Kingdom of Eswatini on 14th May 2023

The Secretariat of Southern African Development Community (SADC) has noted that there are media reports that the SADC election observers will visit the Kingdom of Eswatini on 14th May 2023. The SADC Secretariat wishes to inform all stakeholders in the Kingdom of Eswatini and elsewhere that there are no SADC election observers who will visit the Kingdom as reported in the media. SADC deploys its various missions strictly in accordance with established procedures, in consultation with the host Member State, and with other stakeholders.

The SADC Election Observation Mission (SEOM) is deployed on a mandate cleared by the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Defence and Security Cooperation and is informed by a prior pre-election assessment mission conducted by the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC). None of these procedures have taken place in the context of the Kingdom of Eswatini. At the appropriate time, the SADC Secretariat will formally advise stakeholders in the Kingdom of Eswatini when SADC deploys the relevant structures with a mandate to work with Member States on electoral matters.

The SADC Secretariat further highlights that the media reports referred to above make reference to an organisation calling itself ECF-SADC. Members of the media and stakeholders are advised that there is no SADC structure or institution called ECF-SADC. 

The SADC Secretariat expresses its continued appreciation for the media interest in one of its Member States, and in the work of the regional organisation in general.

Issued by the SADC Secretariat 

2nd May 2023

Gaborone, Botswana