NGO's international election mission supported by embedded security manager
Healix supplied a high-profile non-government organisation (NGO) with an embedded security manager (ESM) for their international election observer mission during the December 2023 national elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This mission was highly complex due to the risk of observers being targeted, intermittent outbreaks of political violence, health issues and the fact that team members were deployed throughout the country, including active conflict areas.
Our ESM oversaw security and logistical coordination throughout the mission, acting as the mission’s operations manager with continuous support from our global operations teams in response to any medical and security incidents that arose.
Challenge
The challenge here was as much a logistical one as it was about security. Twenty-four observers (twelve pairs) had to be deployed to eleven locations throughout the country, including Goma and Bukavu, which are active conflict zones. Each pair needed an accommodation, a vehicle and a driver ready over a month before the election.
During the actual observation phase, which took place before, during and after the election, the observers’ activity, wellbeing and movements required constant remote monitoring by the ESM and the Global Security Operations Centre (GSOC).
Approach
The ESM was deployed to DRC nearly four months before the election date in order to set each location up for the mission. Several medical evacuations and personnel replacements were required and executed throughout the mission. Additionally, for each time the observers made a move, the ESM obtained the green light from local NGO entities. A comprehensive Country Evacuation Plan was also drafted by the GSOC in coordination with the ESM one month before the election date.
On election day, GSOC closely monitored the situation and constantly liaised with the ESM to manage responses to security incidents and ensure the safety of the observer teams. During the rest of the mission, the GSOC monitored incidents throughout the country and provided assessments of the situation and potential developments.
Outcome
The mission was completed in January 2024 without any harm sustained by the observers.
The NGO client managed to produce an intermediate election report and remain in-country until the end of the election period without interruption. This task ultimately produced the most highly regarded report of that election among observing entities.