The UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) has welcomed the announcement of the preliminary results for the Presidential Election and “Commends the country’s electoral bodies.”

“On 28 September 2019, the citizens of Afghanistan braved security threats to cast their votes for a better future; those voters deserve to be commended for carrying out their civic duty,”  said UNAMA Chief, Tadamichi Yamamoto.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) announced the preliminary results of election and Ashraf Ghani has earned 50.64% of votes as leading candidate in the Afghan presidential election.

Yamamoto stressed that all Afghan authorities and actors must demonstrate their commitment to safeguard and complete the election, and to protect the integrity of the final stage of the process.

Yamamoto added that any decisions taken by the electoral bodies in the final stage of the process, “Must have clear legal and technical justifications and should be explained to the people of Afghanistan in clear terms.”

The UNAMA underscored the importance of an orderly process, conducted with particular care and sensitivity, leading up to the announcement of the final results. The UNAMA reiterated that the election process is a joint responsibility of all stakeholders, including the electoral management bodies and the candidates, as well as media and civil society.

“All candidates have the chance to raise any concerns they may have through the appropriate mechanism and within the prescribed time, in accordance with the relevant legal frameworks, regulations and procedures,” said Yamamoto. “At the same time, the ECC has an obligation to adjudicate any complaints it receives transparently and thoroughly so the election process may conclude in a credible manner.”

As part of the mandate conferred on it by the Security Council, the UNAMA provides support to Afghanistan’s electoral authorities. In keeping with its mandate to advise the electoral authorities, UNAMA maintains strict impartiality in its respect for Afghanistan’s election law and all efforts to fight fraud. UNAMA will continue its work to support the electoral authorities, providing impartial and expert advice directed toward supporting a transparent and credible election process based on rule of law.