The European Union will send an observer mission to Liberia for the country's upcoming national elections in October 2023 in response to an invitation from the Liberian authorities, the European External Action Service (EEAS) said on Friday.
"In response to an invitation by the Liberian authorities, the European Union has decided to deploy an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Liberia to observe the general elections [President, House of Representatives and half the Senate] scheduled for 10 October 2023," the EEAS said in a statement.
The mission, which will aim to ensure "competitive, transparent and peaceful elections," will be led by Austrian member of the European Parliament Andreas Schieder, the statement read.
"The European Union is a close partner of Liberia and is committed to continue its support to democratic governance," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell was quoted as saying by the EEAS.
The mission will consist of several expert teams. A core team of 10 experts will be deployed to the Liberian capital, Monrovia, on August 27, with an additional 20 long-term observers to be deployed throughout the country in early September, the statement read. An additional 40 observers will then be deployed on election day itself, the service said.
The EU previously sent observer missions to Liberia in 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2018, according to the EEAS.