PSC/PR/Comm.1(CCXLVI)
Page 1
COMMUNIQUE OF THE 246th MEETING OF THE
PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL
The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 246th
meeting held in Addis Ababa, on 28 October 2010, adopted the following decision on
the situation in Côte d’Ivoire.
Council:
1.
Takes note of the Report of the Mission of Council undertaken to Côte
d’Ivoire, led by Ambassador Ruben Maye Nzue Mangue, Chairperson of the PSC for
September 2010 and Permanent Representative of Equatorial Guinea, from 27
September to 3 October 2010;
2.
Recalls its previous decisions and press statements on the situation in Côte
d’Ivoire;
3.
Notes with satisfaction the significant progress accomplished in the
implementation of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement and its Supplementary
Agreements, in particular, the efforts deployed by the President of the Republic, the
Prime Minister, and all the Ivorian stakeholders, including the Independent Electoral
Commission, towards the holding of the presidential election, severally postponed in
the past, on 31 October 2010. In this regard, Council welcomes the consensual
adoption of the final Electoral List and its certification by the Special Representative
of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, which paved the way
for the production and distribution of national identity cards and voters’ cards.
Council expresses its appreciation, once more, to President Blaise Compaoré,
Facilitator of the Direct Inter-Ivorian Dialogue, for his tireless efforts in the pursuit of
peace and reconciliation in Côte d’Ivoire and to ECOWAS for its efforts towards
resolving the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire;
4.
Re-affirms its conviction that the holding of a peaceful, free, open and
transparent presidential election on 31 October 2010, constitutes an important step
in the crisis exit process and the resolution of outstanding issues in the
Ouagadougou Political Agreement. Council urges the Ivorian stakeholders, including
the candidates to the election, to scrupulously comply with the Code of Good
Conduct, place the interest of the Ivorian people above any other consideration and
abstain from any action likely to undermine the holding of the election in conditions of
peace and security. In this regard, Council calls on the candidates to the presidential
election to continue to comply with the provisions of the Ouagadougou Political
Agreement;
5.
Welcomes the steps taken by the Ivorian authorities, with the support of
United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (ONUCI) and Force Licorne, to provide
security for the electoral process and allow the Ivorians to express their choice at the
election. Council encourages the Ivorian Government to ensure the effective
functioning of the Integrated Command Centre charged with the task of providing
security for the electoral process. Council further welcomes the decision of the UN
Security Council authorizing the deployment of an additional 500 personnel to
ONUCI, in support for the electoral process;