UNION AFRICAINE
AFRICAN UNION
UNIÃO AFRICANA
P.O. Box: 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tel.:(251-11) 551 38 22 Fax: (251-11) 551 93 21
Email: situationroom@africa-union.org, situationroom@ausitroom-psd.org
SEVENTH MEETING OF THE PANEL OF THE WISE
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
9-10 NOVEMBER 2009
COMMUNIQUE
1. The Panel of the Wise, established pursuant to Article 11 of the Protocol
establishing the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union
(AU), with the mandate to support the efforts of the Chairperson of the
Commission and those of the PSC, particularly on conflict prevention,
held its 7th Meeting at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia, on 9-10 November 2009 under the chairmanship of His
Excellency Mr. Ahmed Ben Bella, Chairman of the Panel. The meeting
was opened by the Chairman of the Panel, H.E. Mr. Ben Bella, and the
AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Ramtane
Lamamra.
2. With great sadness, the Panel learned of the sudden death of the spouse
of one of its members, Mrs. Elisabeth Pognon. The Panel extended its
heartfelt sympathy to her and her family, praying for the eternal
happiness of the deceased.
3. Present at the opening session were representatives of Libya as Chair of
the AU and Rwanda as Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council
(PSC) for November 2009, as well as representatives from the European
Union (EU) to the AU and the embassies of Italy, Sweden and Japan, as
partner countries and organizations.
4. President Ahmed Ben Bella, in his presentation, highlighted the activities
of the Panel in the course of the year under review, which included in
particular the adoption by the Assembly of Heads of State and
Government of the Panel’s Report and Recommendations on ElectionRelated Conflicts. He reported that the Secretariat of the Panel, in
conjunction with the Department of Political Affairs, had developed a plan
of action to implement the recommendations contained in the report of
the Panel on election- related conflicts.
5. Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, in his address, reviewed conflict
situations in Africa and the challenges that the Panel faces in the year
ahead. The Commissioner also commended the Panel for its sterling
work with regard to Election Related Conflicts.
6. The agenda of the meeting of the Panel covered five main issues: (i)
consideration of the outcome and recommendations of the Workshop on
Impunity, Justice and National Reconciliation, held in Monrovia, Liberia
from 28 to 29 May 2009, on the basis of a report prepared by a team of