Guinea-Bissau Election observation a success - Paisley

NORTH Antrim MP Ian Paisley has returned from the West African state of Guinea-Bissau after leading a team comprised of MPs, election officials and UN ambassadors on an official election observation mission.

The team, which included, Seamus Magee from the Electoral Commission and former Assistant Chief Constable of the PSNI Duncan McCausland, were in the country to watch voting and counting for the post of president which became vacant in January.

The British team was one of several present in the country during the week-long event but proportionally covered the most extensive number of the nation’s polling stations.

The election was for President of the West-African country, a post that not one person has fulfilled in its entirety since the country gained independence from Portugal in 1974. Since then, the country has witnessed a civil war, a dictatorship and three coups.

Carlos Gomez, one of this election’s candidates, secured 49% of the poll but since he did not gain more than 50% there must now be a run-off vote.

Former president Kumba Yala who came second with 23% has claimed the first round of voting was unfair.

The North Antrim MP and the other observers from Northern Ireland are expected to return to Guinea-Bissau next month when the election will be re-run.

Mr Paisley said: “Being part of the only election observation mission that was officially recognised by the EU, and also part of the team which covered the highest proportion of the country during observation, I can honestly say we saw no signs of untoward behaviour by any candidate. This is not just a view held by the British team, but is a general consensus among all who were present during the week.

“The mission has been deemed a success by all concerned, including the British, EU and UN ambassadors to the region. The experience and knowledge of both Seamus and Duncan was proved invaluable and I can safely say that the Northern Ireland contingent on the team played a critical role in ensuring the fairness of the troubled country’s elections,” he said.

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