STATEMENT OF THE 191^ST MEETING OF THE PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 191st meeting held on 5 June 2009, received a briefing from the Panel of the Wise, represented by Ambassador Salim Ahmed Salim, a member of the Panel, on the report of the Panel of the Wise on consolidating the role of the AU in the prevention, management and resolution of violent conflicts and election-related disputes in Africa.

Council commended the Panel of the Wise for having chosen as part of its thematic debate for the year 2008, to devote its work to dispute and violent conflicts related to elections. Council stressed that the report is a significant contribution of the Panel in the context of the implementation of the Decision Assembly / AU / Dec 187 (X), in which the 10th ordinary session of the Assembly, held from 31 January to 2 February 2008 in Addis Ababa, stressed the need to initiate a collective reflection on the challenges of election-related disputes and violent conflict that often characterize electoral processes in Africa to strengthen African capacities at the national, regional and continental levels to observe and monitor elections.

Council further re-affirmed its support to the Panel of the Wise in its pursuit of preventive diplomacy and good offices for the promotion of peace, security and stability in Africa.