PSC/PR/COMM.1 (DXLV) Page 1 COMMUNIQUÉ The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 545th meeting held on 21 September 2015, adopted the following decision on the situation in the Comoros: Council, 1. Takes note of the briefing provided by the Commission on the evolution of the situation in the Comoros, as well as of the statements made by the representatives of the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU); 2. Welcomes the overall encouraging developments in the situation in the Comoros since the establishment of a new institutional architecture, with the adoption of the 2001 Constitution. In this regard, Council notes the improvement of the relations between the institutions of the Union and those of the autonomous islands, as well as the smooth organization, on 25 January and 22 February 2015, of the legislative and municipal elections, respectively. Council expresses its appreciation to the people, as well as to all the Comorian political stakeholders, for the progress made; 3. Stresses the importance of the smooth holding, on 21 February and 16 April 2016, of the presidential election and that of the Governors of the autonomous islands, as a crucial step in the process for deepening reconciliation and strengthening the Comorian institutions. In this regard, Council urges all the Comorian political stakeholders to work towards the establishment of the necessary environment for the organization of these elections under the required conditions of peace, transparency and regularity. Council encourages the Commission to provide the necessary technical support to the relevant Comorian structures, as well as to dispatch an election observation mission to monitor the elections; 4. Expresses its concern about the attempts of some Comorian political stakeholders to call into question the principle of the rotating presidency, as enshrined in the Comorian Constitution. Council warns against these attempts and against any other action likely to raise tension and jeopardise the gains made in the reconciliation and stabilization process of the Comoros; 5. Welcomes the decision of the Chairperson of the Commission to dispatch to the Comoros, as quickly as possible, a delegation of the AU Panel of the Wise to encourage the Comorian stakeholders to continue to work towards consolidating peace and stability in their country; 6. Urges the international community to mobilise enhanced support for the socioeconomic recovery of the Comoros. Council calls upon the concerned international partners to honour the commitments made at the Donors’ Conference that took place in Doha, in June