The Supreme Elections Committee (SEC) has approved a number of international and regional organisations to observe Egypt's upcoming presidential elections, including the Arab League and the Organisation of the Francophonie, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Tuesday. The Arab Parliament, Community of Sahel-Saharan States, and nations belonging to the Common Market for East and South Africa will also observe the elections, which are scheduled to take place 26 and 27 May. The organisations will receive codes from the SEC to officially register as observers. The European Union also plans to monitor, as per a a memorandum of understanding signed with Egypt in April. The EU Monday launched an Election Observer Mission, made up of approximately 150 observers from all 28 member states, Canada and Norway. It is the first full observation mission, as opposed to the smaller Expert Electoral Mission that monitored the constitutional referendum in January. Ten analysts working with the mission arrived to Cairo in mid-April, while 30 observers arrived two weeks ago. An additional 60 "short-term observers" are scheduled to be deployed throughout Egypt when polling stations will open. The foreign ministry said an international election observation is in line with the government's aim "to hold free, fair and transparent presidential elections worthy of the 25 January and 30 June revolutions.
