Communique: AU PSC, at its 429th meeting held on 16 April 2014, adopted a decision on the situation in Guinea Bissau

AFRICAN UNION

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Email: situationroom@africa-union.org

PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL 429™ MEETING

16 APRIL 2014

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

PSC/PR/COMM.(CDXXIX)

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COMMUNIQUE

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 429^th meeting held on 16 April 2014, adopted the following decision on the situation in Guinea Bissau:

Council,

1. Takes note of the briefing provided by the Director for Political Affairs of the AU Commission on the post-election situation in Guinea Bissau. Council also takes note of the statement made by the Representative of Ghana, in its capacity as the Chair of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS);

2. Recalls its previous communiques and press statements on the situation in Guinea Bissau, in particular communiques PSC/AHG/BR/1(CCCXCVII), adopted at its 397^th meeting, held at the level of Heads of State and Government, in New York, on 23 September 2013, and PSC/PR/COMM.l(CDVIII) of 13 December 2013;

3. Expresses its deep appreciation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), notably Nigeria and the ECOWAS Commission for developing an elaborate package of assistance to the Electoral Management Bodies (EBMs) in Guinea Bissau, in particular, the Technical Support Agency for the Management of the Electoral Process (GTAPE) which greatly facilitated the successful holding of Presidential and Legislative elections in Guinea Bissau on 13 April 2014. Council welcomes the peaceful atmosphere in which the elections took place in a free, fair and transparent manner;

4. Further expresses its appreciation to the AU Commission and the AU Election Observation Mission (AUEOM), which was led by former President Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, for its support to Guinea Bissau and its people, which has significantly contributed towards the completion of the transition. Also expresses its appreciation to the international partners for providing support to the election process in Guinea Bissau and appeals to them to continue to support Guinea Bissau to emerge from the crisis;

5. Commends the political parties, independent candidates and the people of Guinea Bissau for signing a consensual code of conduct and abiding by its provisions to allow the electoral process to take place in a calm and peaceful environment throughout the electioneering campaigns;

6. Welcomes the progress made in Guinea Bissau's transitional process, a country with a long history of unconstitutional changes of government which have greatly weakened the country's democratic institutions. Council acknowledges that the general elections of 13 April 2014 mark a significant step towards the full restoration of constitutional order in Guinea Bissau;

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7. Calls on political parties, independent candidates and the people of Guinea Bissau to continue to remain calm and to allow the electoral process to be completed in accordance with the Constitution of Guinea Bissau. Council warns all potential spoilers not to undermine the ongoing electoral process in the country and stresses that spoilers of the process will be held accountable for their actions;

8. Decides, in the light of the successful holding of Presidential and Legislative elections in Guinea Bissau on 13 April 2014, that upon announcement of the presidential winner and assumption of office by the new President in accordance with the Constitution of Guinea Bissau, the country will be invited to resume its participation in the AU's activities in line with paragraph 6 of communique PSC/PR/COMM(CCCXVIII) adopted by the PSC at its 318^th meeting of 17 April 2012;

9. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.