Communique: The PSC at its 355th meeting discusses the situation in Madagascar Ref:PSC/PR/COMM.1 (CCCLV)

PSC/PR/COMM.1 (CCCLV)

Page 1 COMMUNIQUE

The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 355^th Meeting, held on 13 February 2013, in Addis Ababa, adopted the following decision on the Situation in Madagascar:

Council,

1. Takes Note of the statements made by the Acting Commissioner for Peace and Security, Prof. Jean-Pierre Ezin, the Mediator of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), former President Joaquim Alberto Chissano, on the Situation in Madagascar, as well as the statements made by the Representatives of Mozambique, country chairing SADC and the United Nations;

2. Recalls all its previous decisions and Communiques on the situation in Madagascar, as well as the decisions adopted by the 20^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, held in Addis Ababa, from in to 28 January 2013, and its commitment to the Roadmap to end the crisis in Madagascar, of 17 September 2011, which provided the appropriate framework for the restoration of Constitutional order and the overall solution to the crisis faced by Madagascar;

3. Welcomes the progress made in the process of ending the crisis in Madagascar, particularly the renunciation by Mr. Andry Rajoelina and Mr. Marc Ravalomanana of their respective candidatures for the forthcoming presidential election, and calls on all Malagasy Parties to fully implement the Roadmap as the only viable mechanism to put an end to the crisis in the country;

4. Takes note of the updated election calendar which provides for, among others, the 1^st round of Presidential election on 24 July 2013, and the 2^nd round of the presidential election, coupled with the Legislative election on 25 September 2013, and the Local election on 23 October 2013;

5. Also takes note of the Decision of the Summit of the Troika of the Organ of the SADC Heads of State and Government with Mozambique, in its capacity as the Chairman of SADC, held in Dar-es-Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, from 10 to 13 January 2013, in which the Heads of State and Government, among others, reaffirmed their support to the Roadmap;

6. Stresses that, despite the progress made, some provisions of the Roadmap are still not implemented or are partially implemented, particularly Article 20 and consequently, decides to maintain the suspension of the participation of Madagascar in the activities of the AU and the sanctions imposed against Madagascar, while reiterating its will to lift these measures as soon as possible. In this respect, Council, endorsing the recommendations of the Mediator:

1. demands that Malagasy Institutions of Transition remain neutral, in particular during the electoral period;

2. emphasizes the need to maintain the independence, integrity and credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission for the Transition (CENI-T), and calls for respect and compliance with decisions taken by this institution;

3. demands that the Malagasy political stakeholders exercise restraint and fully assume their political responsibility of peacefully bringing Madagascar back to constitutional normalcy.

7. Recalls that, at its 303^rd meeting, held in Addis Ababa, on 8 December 2011, it had expressed its intention to lift suspension of the participation of Madagascar in the activities of the AU, as contained in the Communique PSC/PR/COMM.(CLXXXI), adopted at its 181^st meeting, held on 20 March 2009, as well as the sanctions imposed under its Communiques PSC/PR/COMM.l(CCXVI) and PSC/PR/COMM.l(CCXXI), adopted at its 216^th and 221^st meetings, held on 19 February and 17 March 2010, respectively. In this regard, Council requests the Chairperson of the Commission, in consultation with SADC, to report to it, in the beginning of April 2013, at the latest, on the progress made in the implementation of the Roadmap, including its Article 20, so as to enable it take a decision on the lifting of the suspension of Madagascar;

8. Encourages the Chairperson of the Commission to mobilise Africa and the international community at large for them to provide the necessary support to the transition process in Madagascar, as provided for in the Communique of 8 December 2011;

9. Requests the Chairperson of the Commission, in consultation with the Executive Secretary of SADC, to enhance the Joint AU/SADC Office in Madagascar, with a view to ensure a greater presence during the electoral period;

10. Congratulates SADC on its efforts aimed at facilitating the restoration of Constitutional order in Madagascar, on the basis of the "Roadmap to end the crisis in Madagascar". Council reiterates its appreciation to the Mediator of SADC, President Joaquim Alberto Chissano, and encourages him and his team to pursue their efforts to reach a consensual and inclusive solution to the crisis in Madagascar;

11. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.