PSC/PR/COMM. (CDXLII) Page 1 COMMUNIQUÉ The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 442nd meeting, held on 17 June 2014, adopted the following decision on the situation in Guinea-Bissau: Council, 1. Takes note of the report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the situation in Guinea-Bissau [PSC/PR/2. (CDXLII)] and the statements made by the representative of the Republic of Ghana, the current Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); 2. Recalls its previous communiqués and press statements on the situation in GuineaBissau, particularly communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.(CCCXVIII) adopted at its 318th meeting, held on 17 April 2012, communiqué PSC/MIN/COMM/1. (CCCXIX), adopted at its 319th meeting, held on 24 April 2012, press statement PSC/PR/BR.2 (CCCXL), adopted at its 340th meeting, held on 2 November 2012, as well as communiqués PSC/PR/COMM (CCCLXI), PSC/PR/COMM.(CCCLXXII) and PSC/PR/COMM(CCCLXXII), adopted at its 351st, 361st and 372nd meetings, held respectively on 16 January, 22 March and 26 April 2013; 3. Reiterates its deep appreciation to ECOWAS for the crucial role it played in support of the process of ending the crisis in Guinea-Bissau. In this regard, Council pays tribute to Presidents Alassane Dramane Ouattara, Goodluck Jonathan and John Dramani Mahama, as well as to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo, for their personal involvement in the efforts to successfully implement the transition process; 4. Also expresses its appreciation to the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), the European Union (EU), the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), the United Nations and the concerned bilateral partners for their sustained support to the process of ending the crisis. Council congratulates the Commission and the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission on their active contribution to the successful completion of the transition; 5. Welcomes the positive developments in the situation in Guinea-Bissau, in particular the successful holding, on 13 April and 18 May 2014, of the two rounds of the presidential election, as well as the organization of the legislative elections; 6. Notes with satisfaction that the electoral process was recognized to have been inclusive, free and fair and credible by the various election observation missions, including that of the AU, led by former President Joachim Chissano of Mozambique. In this regard, Council expresses its appreciation to the people, as well as to all the political institutions and actors of Guinea-Bissau, for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the elections and for the completion of the transition process. Council also commends former President Joachim Chissano for the critical role he played during the elections, in particular in the aftermath of the second round of the presidential election;