PSC/PR/COMM. (DVI) Page 1 PRESS STATEMENT The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 506th meeting held on 13 May 2015, was briefed by the Commission on the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR). Council also followed the presentation made by the Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the AU Commission for Women, Peace and Security. Council welcomed the holding of the Bangui National Forum, from 4 to 11 May 2015. In particular, Council welcomed the adoption of a Republican Pact for Peace, National Reconciliation and Reconstruction, and the signing, by the Transitional Government and the Armed Groups, of an Agreement on the Principles of Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and Repatriation (DDRR) and Integration in the Uniformed Corps of the State of the Central African Republic. Council congratulated the Head of State of the Transition, Madame Catherine Samba-Panza, and other concerned stakeholders, for their commitment and sense of responsibility, which have made possible the achievement of these results. Council reiterated its gratitude to the Heads of State of the Economic Community of Central Africa States (ECCAS), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), the United States of America, France and all other CAR bilateral and multilateral partners for the multifaceted support that they have provided for the successful holding of the Forum. Council urged the CAR stakeholders to effectively implement the commitments made. Council urged the international community to continue and intensify its assistance for the successful conclusion of the Transition, including the implementation of the Republican Pact and the Agreement on DDR emanating from the Bangui National Forum. Council took note of the expressed willingness of the CAR stakeholders to seek from the International Mediator in the CAR crisis, President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo, and the ECCAS Assembly of Heads of State and Government, an extension of the duration of the Transition. In this respect, Council stressed the need for the transitional authorities and the officials of the National Elections Authority to reach an agreement with the region and the international community on a credible and final electoral timetable, based on an objective analysis of the national context in the CAR, to enable the holding, in the shortest possible time, of the elections that will mark the end of the Transition. Council reiterated its commitment to the strict adherence to the provisions of the Transitional Constitutional Charter, including those relating to the ineligibility of the current and past leaders of the Transition, as well as the ineligibility of political leaders targeted by sanctions imposed by the Peace and Security Council and/or by the UN Security Council. Council warned against, and rejects in advance, any attempt to question the provisions on ineligibility. Council expressed its deep concern at the violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the CAR, including allegations of sexual abuse of women