The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) has approved 165 applications submitted by international observers and monitors that will be present in the Maldives for the upcoming presidential election.
Vice President of ECM Ismail Habeeb revealed that a total of 143 international observers and 22 international monitors have submitted applications to be stationed in the Maldives during the election, scheduled to take place on September 9. Habeeb said that among these, 31 observers have received special invitations from the electoral body and will be deployed across six regions of the country. He also said that this year's presidential election boasts the highest number of international observers and monitors involved in an electoral process in the Maldives.
Additionally, Habeeb noted that a total of 112 observers from 17 different organisations will be assigned in various parts of the country. He said the most substantial contingents of observers will be dispatched by the European Union (EU) and The Commonwealth of Nations.
Furthermore, Habeeb elaborated that the countries contributing observers include representatives from the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), Japan, South Korea, South Africa, Cameroon, Jordan, Georgia, Honduras, El Salvador, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. He also said that the group's chief observer will be the Former Chief Election Commissioner of Sri Lanka Vaduge Varunasiri Mahindadesha Priya.
ECM also stated that a total of 22 international monitors from France, Japan, India, and Sri Lanka will be active during the elections.