AFRICAN UNION yu/fl jUJII UNION AFRICAINE UNIAO AFRICANA
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, P.O. Box: 3243 Tel.: (251-11) 5513 822 Fax: (251-11) 5519 321
Email: situationroom@africa-union.org, situationroom@ausitroom-psd.org
PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL 252nd MEETING
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
9 DECEMBER 2010
PSC/PR/COMM.1(CCLII)
COMMUNIQUE
COMMUNIQUE OF THE 252nd MEETING OF
THE PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL
The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 252nd meeting, held on 9 December 2010, adopted the following decision on the situation in Cote d'Ivoire:
Council:
Recalls the press statements issued by its 249thand 250th meetings held on 30 November and 4 December 2010, in Tripoli and Addis Ababa, respectively, particularly the need to respect the will of the people and the results of the presidential election as proclaimed by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), as well as all relevant AU instruments;
Welcomes the initiatives taken by the Chairperson of the Commission to find a speedy and peaceful solution to the crisis on the basis of relevant AU decisions, including the emergency mission undertaken to Abidjan by former President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa. Council expresses its appreciation to President Jacob Zuma and the Government of South Africa for the logistical and other support provided in order to facilitate the mission of President Mbeki;
Endorses the final communique on Cote d'Ivoire of the Extraordinary Session of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held in Abuja, Federal Republic Nigeria, on 7 December 2010, recognizing the results proclaimed by the IEC, as certified by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, pursuant to resolution 1765 (2007) of the United Nations Security Council of 16 July 2007, and Mr. Alassane Ouattara as the President-Elect of Cote d'Ivoire;
Decides, on the basis of relevant AU instruments, to suspend the participation of Cote d'Ivoire in all AU activities, until such a time the democratically-elected President effectively assumes State power;
Strongly urges Mr. Laurent Gbagbo to respect the results of the election and to facilitate, without delay, the transfer of power to the President-Elect, in the best interest of Cote d'Ivoire, the region and Africa as a whole;
Calls upon all Ivorian parties, at this delicate stage in the history of their country, to exercise utmost restraint and to refrain from any action that could jeopardize peace and the process for a way out of the crisis. In this respect, Council reaffirms its determination to take, if necessary, other measures against those who undermine the popular will as expressed on 28 November and duly certified by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, incite violence and commit violations of human rights;
Expresses its concern at the humanitarian consequences of the current crisis and deplores the loss of life and the acts of destruction of property that occurred in some parts of Cote d'Ivoire;
Requests the United Nations Security Council and AU partners to continue to fully support the decisions and efforts of ECOWAS and the AU and, in this regard, notes with satisfaction the Press Statement issued by the Security Council on 8 December 2010;
Encourages the Chairperson of the Commission to continue his efforts with a view to fostering a way out of the crisis through dialogue, in order to promote peace, democracy and reconciliation, in accordance with the Ouagadougou Political Agreement and its Supplementary Agreements;
Decides to remain actively seized of the situation.