In Togo, the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) is formalizing the accreditation procedures for organizations wishing to participate in election observation, with municipal elections scheduled for later in 2025.
In a press release this week, the CENI outlined the technical, administrative, and ethical criteria that organizations must meet to be authorized to observe the electoral process.
To obtain accreditation, national organizations must demonstrate experience in electoral, human rights, or democracy fields, provide their statutes, a receipt of recognition, and a letter specifying the areas and stages of the election they plan to observe, as well as the number of observers they will mobilize. Organizations must also guarantee the neutrality of their members, the absence of conflicts of interest, and complete financial autonomy, especially for those with more than 200 observers.
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Individual observers must demonstrate impartiality, not be affiliated with any political party or electoral body, commit to respecting the electoral code, and refrain from making public statements before the end of the poll. The CENI reserves the right to withdraw accreditation retroactively for any non-compliance.
For civil society, this process presents an opportunity to enhance electoral transparency and contribute to democratic consolidation, particularly as these municipal elections are of major importance. These will be the second local elections since 2020, as the country focuses on decentralization to bring the administration closer to citizens and strengthen local governance. With 117 municipalities across the country, the elections will allow for the renewal of municipal councils and the institutional anchoring of local authorities.
Applications are being accepted until June 20, 2025.
