The National Electoral Commission (CEN) of São Tomé and Príncipe has issued a warning regarding the risk of delays or the suspension of operational phases for the legislative, regional, and local elections scheduled for September 27, owing to a shortfall in government funding.
The President of the Commission, Jeudiger Nascimento, confirmed that the institution requires $1.26 million to organise the triple ballot. He also revealed that the CEN continues to run up operational debts from the presidential election held on July 19, which was largely financed through counterpart funds from the Government of Japan.
In response to the CEN’s warnings, the São Toméan Government, acting through the Ministry of Economy and Finance, gave assurances that the required sum has been allocated. Financial authorities attributed the delay in transferring the funds to the need to audit execution reports from the previous presidential election, promising that disbursements will commence within the coming days.
–ChannelAfrica–
