Communique: The 852nd meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council on the situation in the Sudan

UNION AFRICAINE

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P. O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel.: (251-11) 551 38 22 Fax: (251-11) 519321

Email: situationroom@africa-union.org

PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL 852^nd MEETING 27 MAY 2019

ADDIS ABABA

PSC/PR/COMM.(DCCCXLII)

COMMUNIQUE

Adopted by the Peace and Security Council at its 852^nd meeting held on 27 May 2019, on the situation in The Sudan,

The Peace and Security Council,

Recalling the relevant provisions of the July 2000 AU Constitutive Act, the July 2002 Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, in particular Article 2 establishing the PSC as the standing decision-making organ for the prevention, management and resolution of conflict in Africa, and the January 2007 African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance;

Also recalling Decisions AHG/Dec.l41(XXXV) and AHG/Dec.l42(XXXV), adopted by the 35^th Ordinary Session of the OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Algiers, Algeria, from 12 to 14 July 1999; the Declaration on the Framework for an OAU Response to Unconstitutional Change of Government, adopted by the 36^th Ordinary Session of the OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Lome, Togo, from 10 to 12 July 2000 (the Lome Declaration); the Solemn Declaration of the 50^th OAU/AU Anniversary adopted in Addis Ababa on 25 May 2013; the Assembly decision AU/Dec.269.(XVI) on the Prevention of Unconstitutional Changes of Government and Strengthening the Capacity of the African Union to Manage such Situations, adopted by the 14^th ordinary session of the Assembly of the Union held in Addis Ababa, on 1 and 2 February 2010;

Further recalling its communiques [PSC/PR/COMM.(DCCCXL)] and

[PSC/PR/COMM.(DCCCXLVI)] adopted at its 840^th and 846^th meetings held, respectively on 15 April 2019 and 30 April 2019 on the situation in the Republic of The Sudan; specifically recalling the provisions of paragraph 5 of the communique of its 846^th meeting, in which Council decided to extend the deadline for an additional period of up to sixty (60) days for the military in The Sudan to hand over power to a civilian-led Transitional Authority, and paragraph 7 of the same communique that requested the Chairperson of the Commission to report to the Council every three weeks and as the need arises, on the progress made, with a view to enable Council to assess the situation on the ground in The Sudan, bearing in mind that Council shall, at any time deemed appropriate in view of the prevailing circumstances in the country, take the necessary measures, including imposition of sanctions, in line with article 7(g) of its Protocol;

Noting the statement by the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda to the African Union, H.E. Ambassador Hope Tumukunde Gasatura, in her capacity as the Chairperson of the PSC for the month of May 2019, and the briefing made by the Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Maha mat, pursuant to paragraph 7 of the communique of its 846^th meeting; also noting the statements made by the Representatives of The Sudan and Ethiopia, as the country chairing the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD);

Reiterating, once again, the legitimate aspirations of the Sudanese people to the opening of the political space in order to be able to democratically design and choose institutions that are representative and respectful of freedoms and human rights;

Reajfirming the continued solidarity of the African Union with the people of The Sudan in their aspirations to constitutional framework and institutions that will allow The Sudan to make progress in its efforts towards the democratic transformation of the country;

Expressing, once again, its deep concern over the situation in The Sudan following the military takeover of power, on 11 April 2019, and its impact on the country, the region and the Continent, in a context where The Sudan already faces challenges;

Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council:

1. Reiterates AU's condemnation and total rejection, through its zero tolerance policy, of all forms of unconstitutional changes of government, in particular through military coup d'Etat;

2. Underlines the urgent need for a rapid solution to the current crisis based on the respect of the will and aspirations of the people of Sudan to democratic transformation, as well as for an inclusive consensus among all concerned Sudanese stakeholders, within the framework of the relevant AU instruments;

3. Acknowledges the progress made so far in the search for a solution to the constitutional crisis in the Sudan, in particular with regard to the agreement reached on duration of the Transition, the Transitional Institutions and the priorities of the transition, while reaffirming that the ultimate objective of the process is to put in place a civilian-led inclusive Transition, as demanded by Council;

4. Calls on all Sudanese stakeholders to uphold the supreme interest of their country above all other consideration; in this regard, calls upon the Military and the civilian stakeholders to continue working together towards a consensual solution to the current crisis;

5. Commends the Chairperson of the Commission for the efforts he has deployed and continues to deploy to assist the Sudanese stakeholders in the process of putting in place a civilian-led Transitional Authority;

6. Emphasizes that the solution to the challenges facing The Sudan should be forged within an African-led process, based on decisions of the relevant AU policy organs, in collaboration with the region, through the IGAD; In this context, Council reiterates its call on all partners to provide their support to Africa's approach on the situation prevailing in The Sudan;

7. Reiterates its call on external actors to refrain from any interference that could further complicate the already challenging situation in The Sudan;

8. Requests the Chairperson to continue updating Council every three weeks, on the situation in Sudan, in particular on efforts towards putting in place an inclusive civilian-led Transition, in line with AU's relevant instruments and the deadline as set by Council in the communique of its 846^th meeting;

9. Decides to remain actively seize of the matter.

PSC/PR/COMM.(DCCCXLII)

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