A joint team from the African Union (AU) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) are in Kigali, Rwanda to observe the 2024 General Elections.  The Mission is led by H.E. Jorge Carlos De Almeida Fonseca, former President of the Republic of Cabo Verde and deputised by Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, the former Prime Minister of Uganda and a member of the COMESA Committee of Elders.

At the invitation of the Government of Rwanda and the National Electoral Commission of Rwanda, the Chairperson of the African Union H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat and COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe approved the deployment of the joint short-term observers to assess and report on the conduct of these elections.

The team comprises of 48 observers drawn from 17 countries who include ambassadors, officials from election management bodies, members of the African civil society organisation, African election experts, gender and media experts and youth organisations.

The observers will be deployed to all four provinces including the city of Kigali where they will observe the election day procedures of opening of polls, voting, closing and the counting process.

A preliminary statement containing initial findings and recommendations on the conduct of the elections will be released on 17 July in Kigali, Rwanda.