PSC/PR/COMM. (DLXXXIX) Page 1 COMMUNIQUE The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 589th meeting, held on 12 April 2016, adopted the following decision on elections in Africa: Council: 1. Takes note of the briefing by the Commission on the recent elections in Benin, Cape Verde, Central African Republic Chad, Djibouti, Comoros, Congo, Niger, Tanzania (in Zanzibar), and Uganda. Council also takes note of the briefing by the Commission on preparations for elections that will be held during the second quarter of 2016 ; 2. Expresses its satisfaction that the culture of peaceful and democratic elections continues to take root across Africa, as evidenced by the regular holding of national elections in AU Member States. In the same context, Council welcomes the growing positive trend of peaceful transfers of power in some AU Member States. In this regard, Council commends all Member States, which have successfully conducted peaceful elections and urges Member States to to ensure peaceful, credible, transparent and democratic elections, which should be held in conformity to the AU shared values and instruments, in particular the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance in conducting their future elections; 3. Commends the efforts being deployed by the Commission, through the Department of Political Affairs, to ensure successful organization of peaceful, credible, transparent and democratic elections throughout the continent. In this regard, Council reiterates the need for the Commission to take the necessary steps for the deployment of pre-election assessment missions, long-term election observer missions and postelection observer missions, in sufficient numbers and on time taking into consideration the available financial resources, particularly in countries emerging from conflict and other Member States, where election-related violence has the potential of generating crisis or conflict situation, in line with Article 14 (1) of the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council; 4. Expresses serious concern over the boycott of elections by some political parties. In this connection, stresses the need for the Commission to engage political parties, especially during the pre-election period, to encourage dialogue and negotiations in their efforts to resolve any existing disputes rather than resorting to violence and boycotts, in order to ensure that the elections are conducted in a calm and peaceful atmosphere. Council emphasizes the importance of the Commission to continue its early warning initiatives aimed at detecting signs of instability early enough to ensure early response. In the same context, Council encourages political stakeholders