PSC/AHG/COMM.3(CDXVI) Page 1 COMMUNIQUÉ The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 416 th meeting held on 29 January 2014, adopted the following decision on the situation in Egypt: Council, 1. Takes note of the report of the AU High-Level Panel for Egypt [PSC/AHG/4(CDXVI)], as well as of the statement made by the representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt; 2. Recalls its earlier communiqués and press statements on the situation in Egypt, namely communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.(CCCLXXXIV) adopted at its 384th meeting held on 5 July 2013, press statement PSC/MIN/BR.2(CCCLXXXVII) adopted at its 387th meeting held at the ministerial level on 29 July 2013, press statement PSC/PR/BR.(CCCXC) adopted at its 390th meeting held on 16 August 2013, and press statement PSC/PR/BR.(CCCXCCCV) adopted at its 395th meeting held on 13 September 2013; 3. Reiterates Africa’s solidarity with the people of Egypt, whose aspirations to democracy, the rule of law and well-being are fully consistent with the relevant AU instruments. Council further reiterates AU’s commitment, in line with its duty and responsibility towards all its Member States, to assist Egypt in overcoming the challenges confronting it in the spirit of PanAfricanism and the search for African solutions to African problems; 4. Commends the Chairperson of the Commission for the steps taken to follow up on its communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.(CCCLXXXIV), notably the swift establishment of the High-Level Panel for Egypt. Council also commends the Panel and its members, namely former President Alpha Oumar Konaré, former President Festus Mogae and former Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita, for their commitment and efforts in the discharge of their mandate; 5. Notes the interactions that the Panel had with the Egyptian interim authorities and other stakeholders, as well as with relevant international actors, as reflected in the Panel’s report; 6. Further notes the steps taken by the interim authorities in the implementation of the Roadmap for the transition that they outlined on 3 July 2013, notably the adoption of a new Constitution, through a referendum held on 14 and 15 January 2014, and the decision to hold presidential elections, to be followed by legislative elections, within a period of 60 days, as well as the other developments that took place in the country over the past few months ; 7. Urges the interim authorities to ensure the broadest possible participation in the forthcoming elections and their holding in the required conditions of freedom, fairness and transparency, in line with the relevant AU instruments, notably the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. In this respect, Council requests the Commission to engage the interim Egyptian authorities on how best the AU can monitor and observe the