By Suleman Chitera
Lilongwe, Malawi – September 14, 2025: The African Union (AU) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) have launched a joint election observation mission to Malawi ahead of the country’s highly anticipated general elections scheduled for September 16, 2025.
The mission is headed by Hailemariam Desalegn Botche, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and consists of 65 short-term observers drawn from different African nations.
In a statement released on September 13, 2025, COMESA confirmed that the observers will engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), political parties, civil society organizations, the media, the international community, and other election observation groups already on the ground.
FDH Financial Holdings Launches World-Class TFM Centre of Excellence in Blantyre
Election Monitoring Across Malawi
The observers will be deployed in all three regions of Malawi to oversee key electoral processes. Their mandate includes monitoring the opening and closing of polling stations, the voting process, and the vote counting procedures.
The assessment will be guided by Malawi’s legal framework, the African Union Declaration on Democratic Elections, and internationally accepted democratic principles.
Preliminary and Final Reports
According to the statement, the mission will issue a preliminary report on September 18, 2025, during a press briefing in Lilongwe. A final, comprehensive report is expected within one month after the official announcement of the results.
“The Mission will release a preliminary statement of its overall findings and assessment of the conduct of the elections on 18 September 2025 at a press conference in Lilongwe. A final and comprehensive report will be released within one month from the announcement of the final election results and will be published,” reads part of the AU–COMESA joint statement.
Strengthening Democracy in Malawi
This election observation mission is part of a wider effort to promote transparency, credibility, and peace during Malawi’s 2025 elections. Both AU and COMESA have emphasized their commitment to supporting democratic processes in member states.
Payback Time: Mwase Wins Flames Dismissal Case
With the elections just days away, the presence of the AU–COMESA mission is expected to build voter confidence and contribute to ensuring a peaceful, credible, and inclusive electoral process.
