PRESS STATEMENT OF THE 192nd MEETING OF THE PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL
The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 192nd meeting held on 10 June 2009, was briefed by the Commission on the situation in the Republic of Guinea. Council recalled its previous communiqués on the situation in Guinea and the commitment by the authorities that emerged from the coup d’Etat, including the President of the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD), to complete the transition process before the end of 2009, in accordance with the roadmap agreed upon by all the Guinean stakeholders. Council requested the Guinean parties to make every effort to comply with the roadmap, and urged the international community, including AU Member States, to provide the necessary financial and technical assistance for the preparation and the organization of the legislative and presidential elections that would conclude the transition process. Council welcomed the efforts of the Commissions of ECOWAS and the AU, and the important role being played by the International Contact Group on Guinea. Council called upon the international partners to continue to mobilize the political, financial and material support necessary for the success of the actions undertaken by the Guinean parties. Council agreed to meet again for a thorough review of the situation in Guinea and take appropriate action.
COMMUNIQUE OF THE 192nd MEETING OF THE PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL
The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 192nd meeting held on 10 June 2009, considered the situation in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania in light of the briefing made by the Commission on the recent developments in the situation in that country, and adopted the following decision: Council,
1. Takes note of the briefing by the Commission on the recent developments in the
situation in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, following the negotiations held in Dakar,
Senegal, from 27 May to 2 June 2009, between the major Mauritanian political poles;
2. Welcomes the conclusion of the Framework Agreement signed between the
three main Mauritanian political poles initialed in Dakar, on 2 June 2009, and signed in
Nouakchott, on 3 June 2009, and notes with satisfaction that this Agreement is in line
with the elements for a way out of the crisis articulated in the relevant communiqués of
Council, including communiqué PSC/PR/Comm. (CLXXXVI) adopted at its 186th
meeting held on 6 May 2009, and supported by the International Contact Group on
Mauritania;
3. Congratulates the Mauritanian parties to the process of ending the crisis for the
political will and courage they have shown, which enabled the conclusion of this
Agreement. Council expresses its deep appreciation to President Abdoulaye Wade
and the Government of Senegal for their decisive contribution to the holding and
success of the Dakar negotiations. Council further expresses its high appreciation to
the President of the African Union, Brother Muammar Kaddafi, for his own efforts and
support to the negotiation process and the way out of the crisis. Council also
expresses its gratitude to the international community, within the framework of the
International Contact Group on Mauritania, for its active contribution to the mediation
and support for the implementation of the Framework Agreement;
4. Urges the Mauritanian parties to comply with the letter and spirit of the
Framework Agreement and to implement in good faith the commitments made, whether
they relate to the consensual transition, the electoral process, including the presidential
election, whose first round is scheduled for 18 July 2009, the measures of healing and
trust, as well as the continuation of the inclusive national dialogue;
5. Requests the Chairperson of the Commission to take all the necessary steps to
support the implementation of the Agreement, including the monitoring of the strict
observance of the commitments made by the Mauritanian parties, the mobilization of
the financial and technical support necessary for the smooth conduct of the electoral
process and the coordination of the electoral assistance and observation, as well as the
deployment of a sufficient number of observers, to ensure the holding of the presidential
elections on 18 July 2009, in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations in
Mauritania, as well as internationally established standards in this regard, and support
for the pursuit of the inclusive national dialogue, in order to strengthen national
reconciliation and democracy, the rule of law and good governance and bring to a
definite end the scourge of unconstitutional changes of Government in that country;
6. Urges the international community, represented by the International Contact
Group on Mauritania, to provide all the necessary assistance for the effective
implementation of the Framework Agreement and to play fully, under the auspices of
the AU, the role expected of it towards a successful way out of the crisis in Mauritania;
7. Requests the Chairperson of the Commission to keep Council regularly informed
of the implementation process of the Framework Agreement;
8. Decides to remain seized of the matter.
COMMUNIQUE OF THE 192nd MEETING OF THE PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL
The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 192nd meeting held on 10 June 2009, considered the report of the mission undertaken by the Council to West Africa, from 24 April to 1st May 2009, during which the Mission visited Guinea Bissau and Côte d'Ivoire, in order to evaluate the political and security situation and the state of preparations for the forthcoming presidential elections in these two countries, and adopted the following decision:
Council,
1. Takes note of the Report [PSC/PR/2 (CXCIII)] on the mission which visited Guinea
Bissau on 26 and 27 April 2009, and the briefing made by the Commission on the recent
developments in the situation in this country;
2. Strongly condemns the assassination, on 5 June 2009, of Mr. Baciro Dabo,
candidate in the presidential election scheduled for 28 June 2009, and Mr. Helder
Proenca, former Minister of Defense, as well as the acts of violence and threats against
other candidates in the presidential election;
3. Stresses the need for an independent and credible investigation to shed light on
the series of political assassinations in the country since March 2009, and reiterates its
support to the establishment of a commission of inquiry whose nature and mandate must
reflect the requirements of establishing the truth and determining those involved;
4. Expresses its deep concern over the risk posed by the upsurge of violence to
peace, security and stability in Guinea Bissau ahead of the presidential election and
stresses the need to create the conditions necessary for holding a transparent, free and
fair election. In this respect, Council urges the security and armed forces to refrain from
any interference in political issues and to take the necessary measures to guarantee the
security of the candidates and the electoral process, as well as that of the population in
general, within the framework of the joint commission created to this effected. Council
also requests the Commission, in consultation with ECOWAS, to submit to it
recommendations on immediate measures to be taken to ensure that optimal security
conditions and the necessary serenity are created for the presidential election, as well as
on the long-term support to be provided towards the stabilization of the country,
including security sector reform, the fight against drug trafficking and post-conflict
reconstruction and development;
5. Expresses support to the efforts of the Chairperson of the Commission, including
through his Special Envoy for Guinea Bissau, Mr. João Bernardo de Miranda, in support
to the stabilization process in that country and encourages him to continue these efforts
and requests him to intensify coordination with ECOWAS and the UN to create the
necessary conditions for a successful way out of the crisis in Guinea Bissau;
6. Decides to remain seized of the matter.