By Bongiwe Dlamini

MBABANE: Bankole Adeoye, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the African Union(AU) Election Observation Mission says, the AU Election Observation Mission was in the country to observe elections not to influence regime change.

The Commissioner was responding to Swaziland News journalist Colani Maseko who questioned the Observer Mission, why the AU was failing to put pressure on government to hold a dialogue and unban political parties.

This was during a press conference held at the Hilton Hotel in Mbabane on Sunday morning, the AU Observer Mission contacted the editor and invited this publication to be part of the press conference.

“As the African Union(AU) Election Observation Mission are you just here in the country just like other organizations that include SADC who come here just to enjoy the nice food and sleep in expensive hotels?. Why are you failing to pressure the Government of eSwatini to hold all an inclusive dialogue, unban political parties and conduct elections like other African countries," said the journalist.

But the AU Political Affairs Commissioner clarified that, it was not the duty of the organization to influence regime-change in the country.

“As the African Union(AU) Election Observation Mission we are in the Kingdom of eSwatini to observe elections not influence regime change. All we can say is that the elections were free and fair, all we can do is urge the Government of eSwatini to prioritize an  inclusive national dialogue in order to preserve the peaceful climate existing in the Kingdom to induce peaceful elections in all circumstances,” said the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security when responding to the journalist.