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AU PSC Communique

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union, at its 87th Meeting held on 13 August 2007, adopted the following Communiqué on the situation in The Comoros:

Council,

1. Takes note of the Report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the situation in The Comoros and the additional information provided by the Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the Commission for The Comoros and the representative of South Africa, the country coordinating the regional efforts on The Comoros, on the latest developments in the Archipelago, as well as of the statements by the representatives of the United Nations, League of Arab States, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie and Troop Contributing Countries (Tanzania and the Sudan);

2. Takes note also of the statement by the delegation of the Government of the Union of The Comoros;

3. Reaffirms its commitment to the unity and territorial integrity of the Union of The Comoros, the effective implementation of the institutional framework provided for by the Constitution of the Union and the restoration of the authority of the Union in Anjouan; 

4. Endorses the recommendations and conclusions adopted by the Ministerial Committee of the Countries of the Region on The Comoros, under the coordination of South Africa, during its meetings held in Cape Town and Pretoria, on 19 June 2007, and from 8 to 9 July 2007, respectively;

5. Regrets that the efforts deployed within the framework of the Ministerial Committee of the Countries of the Region, adopted during their above-mentioned meetings in Cape Town and Pretoria, to resolve the crisis in The Comoros, did not receive the expected positive response from the de facto Anjouanese authorities. Council deplores the intransigence so far displayed by the de facto authorities of Anjouan and their lack of cooperation with the regional initiative on The Comoros and the Peace and Security Council;

6. Decides, on the basis of the recommendations of the Ministerial Committee, to review the mandate of the AU Electoral and Security Assistance Mission (MAES) and the strength of its forces, with a view to ensuring the effective implementation of the institutional framework as provided for in the Constitution of The Comoros. In this respect, Council requests the Commission to work closely with the Ministerial Committee of the Countries of the Region, with a view to submitting within one month, concrete proposals, without excluding any option, for the consideration of the Council, regarding the implementation of the Cape Town and the Pretoria framework;
 
7. Decides also, in the meantime, to extend the mandate of MAES until 31 December 2007;

8. Expresses its gratitude to the countries which contributed military personnel and civil police to MAES and encourages them to continue providing support to MAES. Council further requests all other AU Member States to provide support to MAES;

9. Expresses its gratitude to the Countries of the Region for the untiring efforts that they continue to deploy in support of the process of national reconciliation in the Archipelago. Council also pays tribute to South Africa, Coordinator of the efforts of the Region for The Comoros, for its sustained efforts and dedication towards the promotion of a durable solution in that country;

10. Appeals to the AU partners involved in the reconciliation process in The Comoros (United Nations, League of Arab States, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, Indian Ocean Commission and European Union) and the rest of the international community to continue supporting the efforts of the AU aimed at resolving the comorian crisis;

11.     Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. (AU PSC COMMUNIQUE).