Communique: The Peace and Security Council of the African Union, at its 501st meeting held on 28 April 2015, adopted a decision on the developments in Burundi

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PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL 501^st MEETING

ADDIS ABABA

28 APRIL 2015

PSC/PR/COMM.(DI)

COMMUNIQUE

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 501^st meeting held on 28 April 2015, adopted the following decision on the developments in Burundi:

Council,

1. Takes note of the briefing given by the Commissioner for Peace and Security, as well as of the statement made by the Permanent Representative of Burundi to the AU on the latest developments in Burundi;

2. Recalls communique PSC/PR/COMM.(CDXC) adopted at its 490^th meeting, held on 5 March 2015, in particular its call to the Government of Burundi and all the other concerned stakeholders, including the political parties and civil society, to work together toward the organization of peaceful, inclusive, free, fair and credible elections, whose results would be accepted by all;

3. Welcomes the initiatives taken by the Commission, notably the visit undertaken by the Chairperson of the Commission to Bujumbura, from 26 to 27 March 2015, in follow-up to communique PSC/PR/COMM.(CDXC). Council notes with satisfaction the efforts being made by the relevant Regional Economic Communities (RECs), namely the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Council also welcomes the efforts made by the United Nations (UN), particularly through the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, and takes note of the statement to the press on the situation in Burundi issued by the UN Security Council, on 17 April 2015;

4. Expresses its grave concern about the incidents that have taken place in Burundi in the past few days, deeply deplores the loss of human life and strongly condemns all acts of violence. In this context, Council stresses the urgency of fully disarming all militias and illegal armed groups. Council expresses its condolences to the families of the victims and wishes speedy recovery to all those injured;

5. Notes with concern the flow of people towards the neighboring countries, as a result of the prevailing situation in Burundi. Council appeals to the humanitarian organizations to provide all the necessary support to the affected people;

6. Recalls its responsibilities in conflict prevention and resolution as provided for in the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council, urges all Burundian stakeholders to exercise utmost restraint and to respect the culture of constitutionalism to overcome their differences, with due respect to legality, and facilitate the organization of peaceful, free, fair and credible elections. Council further urges the Burundian stakeholders to reject violence and preserve the hard-won peace in Burundi;

7. Notes that the Burundian Senate has seized the Constitution Court on the interpretation of the Constitution regarding the eligibility of H.E. President Pierre Nkurunziza's candidature for re-election. Council urges all Burundian stakeholders to respect the decision of the Constitution Court, when delivered;

8. Reiterates the readiness of the AU to support the Burundian stakeholders in the deepening of the democratic process, within the context of the relevant AU instruments, including the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. In this regard, Council welcomes the intention of the Chairperson of the Commission to dispatch a high-level mission urgently to Burundi to identify other practical measures that could assist in defusing the current tension and contribute to the establishment of conditions conducive to the successful organization of the elections. Council calls upon the Government of Burundi and all the other stakeholders concerned to extend the necessary cooperation to this mission;

9. Encourages the Panel of the Wise to continue to engage all stakeholders, including the Government, political parties and civil society organizations, with a view to resolving the on­going political impasse;

10. Requests the Commission to update it on the evolution of the situation on the ground at its meeting of 30 April 2015, including the efforts to defuse the prevailing tension and facilitate dialogue;

11. Decides to remain seized of the matter.