COMMUNIQUE OF THE 181
st MEETING
OF THE PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL
The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 181
st
meeting held on 20 March 2009, adopted the following decision on the situation in
Madagascar.
Council:
1.
Recalls communiqués PSC/PR/COMM.(CLXXIX) and PSC/PR/COMM (CLXXX)
adopted at its 179
th and 180th meetings held on 16 and 17 March 2009, respectively;
2.
Also recalls the communiqué of the Extraordinary Summit of the Troika of the
Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation of the Southern African
Development Community (SADC), held in Ezulwini, Swaziland, on 19 March 2009;
3.
Notes that, following the resignation of President Marc Ravalomanana, under
pressure from the civilian opposition and the armed forces, the transfer of power was
made in violation of the relevant provisions of the Malagasy Constitution, and that the
subsequent decisions to confer the Office of the President of the Republic to Mr Andry
Rajoelina constitute an unconstitutional change of Government. Council
strongly
condemns
this unconstitutional change of Government, which marks another serious
setback in the ongoing democratization processes on the continent and reinforces the
concern over the resurgence of the scourge of coups d’Etat in Africa, as expressed by
the 12
th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union held in Addis Ababa from 1 to 4
February 2009;
4.
Decides, in accordance with the Lomé Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes
of Government and the Constitutive Act of the AU, to suspend Madagascar from
participating in the activities of the AU until the restoration of constitutional order in this
country. Council
also expresses its determination to impose all the measures provided
for by the Algiers Decision of July 1999, the Lomé Declaration of July 2000, the
Constitutive Act of the AU and the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace
and Security Council, including sanctions, on the perpetrators of the unconstitutional
change and on all those who contribute to the maintenance of the illegal status quo , if
constitutional order is not restored;
5.
Calls upon all Member States of the AU and the international community at large
to reject their unconstitutional change and to refrain from any action likely to comfort the
illegal regime in Madagascar. Council
requests the Chairperson of the Commission to
work closely with SADC and all AU partners, notably the United Nations and its Security
Council, the European Union and the International Organization of la Francophonie, to
contribute to the rapid restoration of constitutional order, and to take all the initiatives he
deems necessary to this effect;
PSC/PR/COMM.(CLXXXI)
Page 2
6.
Reiterates its request for all necessary measures to be taken to ensure the
safety and dignity of President Marc Ravalomanana and his family, as well as those of
his associates, respect for individual and collective freedoms, to prevent any act of
violence or intimidation, and protect property;
7.
Invites the Chairperson of the Commission, in accordance with decision
Assembly/AU/Dec.220 (XII) adopted by the 12
th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of
the Union held in Addis Ababa from 1 to 4 February 2009, to present at the next
Ordinary Session of the Assembly concrete recommendations to better prevent and
punish unconstitutional changes of Government. Council
requests the Chairperson of
the Commission to submit to it an interim report on this issue;
8.
Decides to remain seized of the matter.