Assembly/AU/Dec.220(XII) Page 1 DECISION ON THE RESURGENCE OF THE SCOURGE
OF COUPS D’ETAT IN AFRICA
The Assembly:
EXPRESSES its deep concern over the resurgence of the scourge of coups d’etat on the Continent, which constitutes not only a dangerous political downturn and a serious setback to the democratic processes, but also a threat to peace, security and stability of the Continent, and CALLS ON Member States to react firmly and unequivocally to put an end to this Scourge;
STRONGLY CONDEMNS the coups d’etat that took place in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania on 6 August 2008, and in the Republic of Guinea on 23 December 2008, as well as the attempted coup d’etat in the Republic of Guinea Bissau on 5 August 2008;
SUPPORTS the decisions taken by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) on these three countries, particularly those related to the immediate return to constitutional order, and REQUESTS the Commission to see to the strict implementation thereof;
REITERATES the firm commitment of the African Union (AU) to the provisions of Articles 4(p) and 30 of the Constitutive Act, the Protocol relating to the establishment of the Peace and Security Council, the July 1999 Algiers Declaration and the Lome Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Government of July 2000;
URGES Member States that have not yet signed and ratified/acceded to the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance to do so in order to ensure that this important instrument enters into force;
REQUESTS the Chairperson of the Commission to submit concrete recommendations relating to the implementation of appropriate preventive measures against unconstitutional changes of government, as well as to the enhancement of efficiency and capacity building in early warning, good offices and mediation, including the Panel of the Wise;
FURTHER REQUESTS the AU’s partners to lend support to the decisions taken by the PSC and other relevant AU Organs on unconstitutional changes of government.