08/02/2018 (Agence Europe) – The European Union has begun to deploy an electoral observation mission (EOM-EU) in Sierra Leone with a view to general elections on 7 March this year. British MEP Jean Lambert (Greens/EFA) has been appointed chief observer by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. In a press release, Mogherini trusts elections will be “transparent, credible and peaceful”. The EOM-EU core team, which is to coordinate work, has been in Freetown since 25 January and will remain there until the end of the electoral process. Twenty-eight long-term observers were deployed in the country on Wednesday 7 February. Forty short-term observers will come to their support on the eve of the ballot. This is the fourth time that the EU observes general elections in this West African country. (AN)