A group of election observers from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) have been deployed to observe the general election and the processes that will follow.

The observer mission is led by Nemani Mati, Commissioner and Member of the Fiji Electoral Commission, and Pita Vuki, Supervisor of Elections of the Tonga Electoral Commission, supported by the PIF Secretariat staff.

The Pacific Islands Forum Election Observation Mission represents the collective commitment of Forum Members to uphold democratic values and regional solidarity.

Secretary General Baron Waqa welcomed the invitation extended by the Government of Samoa and the Office of the Electoral Commission, commending their commitment to transparency and accountability through the inclusion of both international and domestic observers.

“National elections are a cornerstone of democratic governance. We commend Samoa for its leadership in promoting inclusive and credible electoral processes,” said Secretary General Waqa. “We wish the people of Samoa a peaceful and successful election as they choose their representatives.”

The PIF Election Observation Mission will observe polling on election day and the counting process. Forum Election Observer Missions are conducted under the Biketawa Declaration 2000, the Pacific’s regional commitment to good governance.

The observer team will issue a report on the elections after their mission. The findings of the report help identify areas of improvement and outline whether the electoral process has been democratic, free and fair.