Chief Observer Lucia Annunziata launches European Union Election Observation Mission to Malawi

Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Malawi, Lucia Annunziata, launched the mission at a press conference in Lilongwe today. The Chief Observer announced that, following an invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Malawi Electoral Commission to observe the 16 September General Elections, the mission’s Core Team of ten analysts started its work earlier this month, having arrived in Lilongwe on 2 August. 

“The 2025 General Elections are 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 Elections, 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”, said Chief Observer Lucia Annunziata, Member of the European Parliament, at the press conference in Lilongwe today. 

The Chief Observer continued: “Our 28 long-term observers are ready to be deployed across Malawi. Working in pairs, in 14 teams of two, 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, standard election observation methodology. The mission’s mandate is to assess the general elections in line with the Malawian legal framework, as well as with the international and regional standards and commitments Malawi has undertaken regarding democratic elections. I hope to observe a peaceful election campaign and election day across Malawi, allowing voters to express their choices freely.”

The 28 long-term observers come from 24 countries, European Union Member States and Norway. They are independent and impartial observers. They will meet local election officials, candidates and representatives of political parties, as well as civil society actors and local media representatives. 

Shortly before election day, the 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 EU EOM will remain in Malawi until the completion of the electoral process.

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.

The EU EOM will issue its preliminary findings in a press conference two days after the election day. It is important to note that EU Election Observation Missions do not certify or validate election results. This is the sovereign responsibility of the relevant national authorities.