National Independent Election Commission

The main objective of the commission is ensuring that the voting process is smooth, correct and transparent. The Electoral Commission has total independence to prepare, organise and supervise the entire electoral process, As part of its mission, the Electoral Commission has all the powers to prepare, organise and supervise the entire electoral process, not receiving any instructions from any public or private authorities or institutions.^[3]

As part of its objectives, the CENI:

• takes care of observing the principle of equal access for all competing candidates to the official organs of the written, audio and visual press, and on this basis it can direct any observation or recommendation to the competent authorities.
• participates in the media sector to educate citizens about the voting process.
• takes the necessary measures to facilitate the tasks of the national observers and the invited international observers in consultation with the competent diplomatic departments of the State.

The CENI is a collegial authority, with the Committee of Elders being its design, orientation and decision-making body. It has 11 members, nominated by both the government and the opposition. They have an irrevocable non-renewable term of five years.^[4]

This is the current composition of the Committee of Elders since 31 October 2022.^[5]

Name	Position	Nominated by[6]
Mr. Dah Ould Abdel Jelil	President		Presidential majority
Mr. Mohamed Lemine Ould Dahi	Vice-president		RFD
Mr. Ebbe Ould Mbari	Member		APP
Mr. Babocar Souley	Member		Presidential majority
Mr. Baba Ould Boumeiss	Member		Presidential majority
Mr. Bilal Ould Werzeg	Member		Presidential majority
Ms. Djeinaba Tandia	Member		Presidential majority
Ms. Koumba Sy	Member		UFP
Ms. Lamina Mohamed Bouya Momme	Member		Presidential majority
Mr. Mohamed Mokhtar Melil	Member		Sawab
Mr. Moulaye Ould Brahim	Member		Tewassoul
Mr. Amadou Moussa Diallo	Secretary-General		Non-partisan

The President of the CENI is oldest member of the Committee of Elders and acts as the Head of Administration of the CENI. They have authority over all technical and administrative staff and are the authorising officer of the CENI budget.^[4]

The legal chamber is responsible for assisting the Committee of Elders in the exercise of the legal powers of the CENI, with regard to administrative and financial matters, legal affairs and litigation. It gives a prior opinion on draft decisions of a legal nature.^[4]

The Technical Chamber is responsible for assisting the Committee of Elders within the framework of the technical attributions of the CENI, with regard to questions relating to logistics, electoral material, electoral operations, communication and education. citizenship and relations with regional and local branches.^[4]

The CENI has regional and local branches in the regions, departments and districts whose attributions, organisation and functioning are determined by deliberation of the CENI Steering Committee.

The members of the regional and local branches are appointed, on the occasion of each election, by deliberation of the Committee of Elders of the CENI. Their functions end fifteen days after the proclamation of the final results of the corresponding election.^[4]