The mission, which has been deployed since Friday, will complement the work of the AU long-term experts, who have been deployed since January and will remain in Lesotho until 14 March 2015.

The six long-term experts will be joined by 40 short-term observers drawn from African Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs), civil society organisations, human right institutions, think tanks, women groups, the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC) of the African Union to support the work of the long-term experts and observe the election day activities.

The mission will be led by Former Prime Minister of Kenya Raila Amolo Odinga.

“As part of his activities, the mission leader will meet relevant stakeholders in Lesotho, including the leaders of political parties, the chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the Chief Justice, political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies and other electoral observation missions,” the AU said in a statement on Monday.

Available: http://www.sanews.gov.za/africa/au-approves-short-term-observation-mission-lesotho