Communique of the 1061st meeting of the PSC, held on 27 January 2022: Open Session under the theme, ‘’Promoting Constitutionalism, Democracy and Inclusive Governance to Strengthen Peace, Security and Stability in Africa’’

AFRICAN UNION
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UNIAO AFRICANA

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PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL 1061^st MEETING 27 JANUARY 2022 ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

PSC/PR/COMM.1061(2022)

COMMUNIQUE

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COMMUNIQUE

The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 1061^st meeting, held on 27 January 2022, convened an Open Session under the theme, "Promoting Constitutionalism, Democracy and Inclusive Governance to Strengthen Peace, Security and Stability in Africa" and adopted the following decision:

The Peace and Security Council:

Recalling its previous decisions and pronouncements, on unconstitutional changes of governments in Africa, particularly Press Statements PSC/PR/BR.(CDXXXII)) adopted at its 432"« meeting, held on 29 April 2014, in which Council reiterated its total rejection of unconstitutional changes of government, as well as the conclusions of the Peace and Security Council Retreat held in Ezulwini, Swaziland, from 17 to 19 December 2009 and the Eight High-Level Seminar on Peace and Security in Africa, held between the AU PSC and the African Members of the United Nations Security Council (A3) in Oran, Algeria from 2 to 4 December 2021;

Also recalling the various instruments adopted by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the AU to address systematically and consistently the problem of unconstitutional changes of government; in particular Decisions AHG/Dec.l41(XXXV) and AHG/Dec.142 (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 the OAU Response to Unconstitutional Changes 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 referred as "the Lome Declaration";

Mindful of the AU legal instruments such as the AU Constitutive Act; the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union; African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance; the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and other relevant AU human rights instruments;

Taking note of the opening statement by H.E. Ambassador Amma A. Twum-Amoah, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Ghana to the African Union, in her capacity as the Chairperson of the PSC for the month of January 2022 and the presentation made by H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Also taking note of the presentations made by Dr. Emma Birikorang, the Deputy Director ofthe Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre (KAIPTC), and Dr. Paul-Simon Handy, the East Africa Regional Representative of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) to the AU;

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

1. Takes note with serious concern the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government in Africa, the phenomenon that undermine democracy, good governance, peace, security and stability, and the collective quest to silence the Guns in Africa by 2030;

2. Stresses the urgent need to address the underlying causes of unconstitutional changes of government, including governance deficits, mismanagement of diversity, marginalization, violation of human and peoples' rights, refusal to accept electoral defeats, manipulation of constitutions, illegal review of constitutions, among other factors, are triggers of unconstitutional changes of government in Africa;

3. Recalls the recommendations of the Eight High-Level Seminar on Peace and Security in Africa, held in Oran, Algeria from 2 to 4 December 2021, in particular, the need to review the African Governance Architecture (AGA) and the 2000 Lome Declaration on unconstitutional changes of government; and requests the AU Commission to undertake in-depth analysis of the 2000 Lome Declaration on unconstitutional change of government and the AGA, with a view to ensure these frameworks and instruments respond appropriately to the challenges that the Continent is currently facing and submit to the PSC for consideration;

4. Underscores the importance of enhancing the capacity of the African Peer Review Mechanisms (APRM) to continue supporting Member States in the promotion of democracy and good governance with a view to prevent constitutional related crises;

5. Stresses the need for the PSC and the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) to continue monitoring the situations of unconstitutional changes of government in the Continent and provide guidance to Member States to address and prevent the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government;

6. Reiterates its call to all AU Member States to enhance their efforts to deepen the culture of human rights, democracy, accountability, inclusiveness, reconciliation and good governance with the aim of fostering peace, security and stability in the Continent;

7. Decides to hold a brainstorming session/seminar of the PSC and other relevant stakeholders on unconstitutional changes of government in Africa and welcomes the offer made by Ghana to host the event;

8. Requested AU Commission to reactivate the PSC Sub-Committee on Sanctions to provide support to the PSC and follow upon the implementation of sanctions imposed by the PSC, as well as to provide the necessary support and coordinate with the RECs/RMs;

9. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.