Communiqué of the 962nd meeting held on 5 November 2020, on the briefing by the African Peer Review Mechanism (APMR) on the Country Review Report of the Republic of Mozambique

AFRICAN UNION

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PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL 962^nd MEETING

5 NOVEMBER 2020

ADDIS ABABA

PSC/PR/COMM. (CMLXII)

COMMUNIQUE

Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 962^nd meeting held on 5 November 2020, on the briefing by the African Peer Review Mechanism (APMR) on the Country Review Report of the Republic of Mozambique,

The Peace and Security Council,

Noting the opening remarks made by the Permanent Representative of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the AU and Chairperson of the PSC for November 2020, H.E Ambassador Tesfaye Yilma, as well as the statement by the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, H.E. Ambassador Ms. Cessouma Minata Samate; and olso noting the presentation made by the Member of the APRM Panel of Eminent Persons, Bishop Dinis Salomao Sengulane;

Recalling Decision [Assembly/AU/Dec.758(XXXIII)] adopted by the 33^rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, held from 9 to 10 February 2020, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, wherein the Assembly adopted the Statute of the APRM, as part of the AU tools for Member States to undertake self-monitoring in all aspects of their governance and socio-economic development within the framework of the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and early warning for conflict prevention on the Continent;

Also recalling its previous decisions on the APRM, particularly, press statements [PSC/PR/BR. (DCCCXIX)] adopted at its 819^th meeting held on 19 December 2018, and [PSC/PR/BR. (DCCCXIX)] adopted at its 871^st meeting held on 22 August 2019, as well as Communique [PSC/PR/COMM.(CMXIV)] adopted at its 914^th meeting held on 5 March 2020;

Reajfirming its support towards the fulfilment of the APRM mandate of promoting the Union s ideals and shared values of democratic governance and inclusive development, as well as contributing as an early warning mechanism for conflict prevention in line with the standards contained in the African Union Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance, working in synergy with the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Governance Architecture (AGA);

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

1. Acknowledges the significant contribution of the APRM as a diagnostic tool to identify drivers of change and socio-economic development through country review process to promote good governance and inclusive participation aimed at instituting practical steps towards addressing the root causes of armed conflict and prevention of its recurrence in the Continent;

2. Takes note of the Second Peer Review Report of Mozambique and, in this regard, commends the Republic of Mozambique for voluntarily undergoing this review process aimed at reinforcing governance best practices, identifying challenges, and assessing capacity-building needs to foster policies, standards and practices that contribute to conflict prevention, political stability, economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated regional and Continental economic integration;

3. Welcomes, in particular, the remarkable progress made by Mozambique since its first country review in 2008, especially the development of the National Programme of Action (NPOA) detailing key priority areas related to democracy, political, economic and corporate governance, as well as socio-economic development; and pays tribute to the President of Mozambique, H.E Filipe Jacinto Nyusi for his steadfast and sustained leadership in the promotion of good governance in Mozambique;

4. Also pays tribute to the President of South Africa, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, for the sterling leadership of the APRM and, commends the broader leadership of the APRM for sustained efforts to strengthen the review processes and upscale the implementation of actions needed to promote good governance in the Continent

5. Congratulates the APRM Panel of Eminent Persons for their steadfast efforts in providing the required guidance and ensuring that the work of the APRM is carried out independently, professionally and in a credible manner, as well as for continuing to execute the APRM mandate even amidst challenges posed by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic;

6. Encourages the APRM Participating States which have not yet been peer-reviewed to take necessary measures to ensure that they are also peer reviewed and their reports are presented to the APRM Forum; also encourages facilitation of a platform wherein the peer-reviewed countries could share their experiences and best practices emanating from the review processes to enhance efforts towards preventive diplomacy and good governance aimed at achieving the 'Africa We Want' in line with the AU Agenda 2063; and further encourages Member States, which are yet to sign up for and ratify the APRM, to take advantage of the opportunity of a country self­assessment for good governance, creation of a space for a national dialogue on governance and socio-economic indicators, as well as an opportunity to build consensus on the way forward;

7. Expresses grave concerns on the growing threat to peace and security in Mozambique posed by the incessant terrorist attacks in the northern province of Cabo Delgado resulting in the loss of lives and dire humanitarian crisis ; and in this regard, condemns, in strongest terms, the heinous attacks being perpetrated by the terrorist group against civilians, law enforcement agencies and other symbols of the Government; expresses deep condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes quick recovery to the injured; and in this respect, calls for the AU Member States, in a position to do so, to provide support to the efforts of the Government of Mozambique to fight and defeat terrorism in the country and the region as a whole;

8. Requests the AU Commission, working in collaboration with the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs), to further strengthen cooperation with the APRM, including in the areas of democracy, elections, good governance and rule of law;

9. Reiterates its request to the AU Commission, working in close collaboration with the APRM Secretariat, to organize a joint retreat of the APRM, as a forum for exchanging views and engage on the various review reports undertaken to enhance early warning strategies and efforts aimed at addressing root causes of conflict relating in the Continent;

10. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.