Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Malawi, Lucia Annuanziata, yesterday launched the mission at a press conference held in Lilongwe.
She announced that, following an invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to observe the September 16 2025 General Election, the mission’s core team of 10 analysts started its work earlier this month, having arrived in Lilongwe on August 2 2025.
Annuanziata . | Kelly
Livimbo
“The 2025 General Election is an important moment for Malawi’s democracy. The European Union wholeheartedly supports Malawi in this endeavour. I would like to express my gratitude to the Malawian authorities for inviting the EU to observe the 2025 Malawi General Election, comprising the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections.
“The mission’s presence throughout the whole country, in all districts of Malawi, aims to support an inclusive, credible and transparent election process,” she explained.
She added: “Our 28 long-term observers are ready to be deployed across Malawi. Working in pairs, they will observe the campaign and preparations for the elections, as well as voting, counting and tabulation, in line with the EU’s well-established and standard election observation methodology.”
Annuanziata, who is a Member of the European Parliament, was quick to say that the mission will not interfere with the country’s electoral process, let alone the political atmosphere before, during and after the elections.
“The EU Election Observation Mission is bound by a code of conduct which requires strict neutrality and non-interference. The mission operates under a separate and distinct mandate from that of the EU Delegation in Malawi.
“It carries out its work in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation. It is important to note that the mission will not certify or validate election results. This is the sovereign responsibility of the relevant national authorities,” she stressed.
Commenting on the development, Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum (Cseif) chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said the launch is a crucial step to safeguarding the integrity of the September 16 2025 elections in Malawi.
“While the mission will not by itself guarantee a flawless election, its presence signals to both stakeholders and the electorate that Malawi’s democratic process is being closely watched and that accountability will be demanded at every stage,” he said.
According to the EU, the 28 long-term observer mission will be augmented by 32 short-term observers, a delegation of Members of the European Parliament and a number of diplomats accredited to Malawi, from EU member-States, Canada, Norway and Switzerland.
The mission will issue its preliminary findings in a press conference two days after the elections day and it will remain in Malawi until the completion of the electoral process.
