The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Pre-Election Fact-Finding Mission, led by Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, held a series of high-level meetings with national authorities and stakeholders in Cabo Verde as part of its preventive diplomacy efforts ahead of the upcoming elections, according to a Mar. 9 statement.
The mission is intended to assess the pre-electoral environment and foster dialogue among key groups to support peaceful and credible elections. These efforts are seen as important steps in building confidence among political actors and civil society while reinforcing democratic processes in the country.
The delegation began its work with a briefing at the ECOWAS Permanent Representation in Cabo Verde, hosted by Acting Resident Representative Kelly Lopes. The team met with several government officials including Foreign Minister Jorge do Livramento and Justice Minister Joana Gomes Rosa to discuss institutional collaboration, legal frameworks for governance, and mechanisms for resolving electoral disputes. The mission also visited the Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre – Zone G to review regional security cooperation.
Meetings were held with Maria do Rosário Gonçalves, President of the National Electoral Commission (CNE), focusing on transparency measures and public confidence in the electoral process. Salif Silva, Director-General for Electoral Support (DGAPE), discussed logistical preparations such as voter registration and poll organization. Representatives from major political parties shared their perspectives on campaign dynamics and election fairness.
Civil society organizations emphasized citizen engagement and responsible public discourse during discussions with the mission. International partners including representatives from the European Union Delegation and United Nations joined talks on supporting democratic governance. The delegation also consulted with José Pina Delgado, President of the Constitutional Court, about legal safeguards for electoral integrity.
According to the official website, the Economic Community of West African States seeks to advance cooperation among member states through harmonized policies in areas like trade, transport, agriculture and social development to boost living standards and promote stability according to the official website. The ECOWAS Commission is directed by a president supported by a vice president and commissioners according to the official website. In 2022 ECOWAS launched a multilingual website to enhance accessibility and transparency according to the official website. Its programs cover 12 West African countries but aim for broader regional impact according to the official website. ECOWAS influences policy by harmonizing economic, trade and legal systems among member states according to the official website, holding authority under its treaty through mechanisms like common external tariffs according to the official website.
Through this fact-finding exercise, ECOWAS aims to strengthen early dialogue, preventive engagement and stakeholder confidence—foundations considered essential for peaceful elections. The consultations are expected to help identify good practices as well as areas needing attention or enhanced cooperation.