Communiqué of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 545th meeting on the situation in Madagascar

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 545th meeting held on 21 September 2015, adopted the following decision on the situation in Madagascar:

Council,

1. Takes note of the briefing given by the Commission, as well as of the statements made by the representatives of the Republic of Madagascar, the United Nations(UN) and the European Union (EU);

2. Recalls its earlier communiqués and press statements on the situation in Madagascar, including communiqués PSC/PR/COMM.(CCCXCIV) and PSC/PR/COMM.(CDXV) adopted at its 394th and 415th meetings, held on 5 September 2013 and 27 January 2014, respectively, as well as the relevant provisions of decision Assembly/AU/Dec.583(XXV), adopted by the 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 14 to 15 June 2015, reaffirming the AU's support to the stabilisation efforts and economic recovery in Madagascar;

3. Welcomes the overall encouraging developments in the situation in Madagascar since the organisation, on 25 October and 20 December 2013, of the two rounds of the presidential election, as well as the legislative elections, held together with the 2nd round of the presidential election;

4. Notes with satisfaction the initiatives taken to complete the implementation of the 16 September 2011 Roadmap for ending the crisis in Madagascar, including with respect to national reconciliation, with the holding, on 19 December 2014, in Antananarivo, of the first meeting between the President of the Republic, Mr. Hery Rajaonarimampianina, and the four former Presidents (Didier Ratsiraka, Albert Zafy, Marc Ravalomanana and Andry Rajoelina) under the mediation of the Christian Council of Churches of Madagascar (FFKM). Council takes note of the organisation, in May 2015, of the National Forum for Reconciliation, under the aegis of the FFKM ;

5. Also notes with satisfaction the holding, on 31 July 2015, of the local and municipal elections, which will be followed next year by the organisation of the senatorial election;

6. Notes that, despite the progress made to date, Madagascar continues to face many political challenges, particularly with respect to the relationship between the legislative and the executive branches, as evidenced by the adoption, by the National Assembly, on 26 May 2015, of a motion to impeach the President of the Republic and the subsequent submission of a resolution of indictment that the High Constitutional Court (HCC) rejected on 12 June 2015 ;

7. Urges the Malagasy political stakeholders to show the necessary political commitment to consolidate the gains made and to overcome the challenges facing their country. In this respect, and taking note of the decision of the HCC of 12 June 2015, Council encourages the Malagasy stakeholders to agree quickly on the signing of a Memorandum aimed at promoting the stability necessary for ensuring the socio-economic recovery of Madagascar and strengthening its democratic institutions;

8. Encourages the Malagasy authorities to intensify the efforts to promote good governance and the fight against corruption and requests the Commission to initiate the necessary consultations with the Malagasy authorities to identify the modalities of an enhanced African support to their efforts, within the framework of the relevant AU instruments;

9. Also encourages the Malagasy authorities to continue with their efforts to reform the security sector. In this regard , Council welcomes the support the Commission is giving to Madagascar in this area, and calls for the acceleration of the implementation of the recommendations of the Joint Assessment Mission led by the AU and comprising representatives of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the EU, the UN, the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) and the African Security Sector Network (ASSN), which visited Antananarivo, in October 2014, to consider the needs of Madagascar in the area of security sector reform;

10. Welcomes the efforts of the Commission to support the delimitation process of the maritime boundary between Madagascar and the Comoros, within the framework of the AU Border Programme (AUBP), particularly the objective of delimitating and demarcating by 2017 African borders where such an exercise has not yet taken place, in accordance with decision Assembly/AU/Dec.369(XVII) adopted by the 17th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, from 30 June to 1 July 2013. Council encourages the Commission to pursue the efforts thus initiated;

11. Reiterates the AU's commitment, in coordination with SADC and the concerned international partners, including the EU, the UN and the bilateral partners, to continue to support peace building and economic recovery in Madagascar, including through the facilitation of a coordinated and enhanced international support. In this regard , Council stresses the important role of the International Support Group for Madagascar (GIS-M), established in Antananarivo, on 28 March 2014, under the co-chairmanship of the AU and the Government of Madagascar;

12. Agrees to adjust as follows the mandate of the AU Liaison Office in Madagascar : (i) monitor political and other developments in Madagascar and in the Indian Ocean region; (ii ) facilitate the mobilisation and coordination of the necessary support to the overall efforts to consolidate the reconciliation process and facilitate the stabilisation of Madagascar, including through the GIS-M; ( iii) facilitate the implementation, in Madagascar, of the relevant decisions of the AU policy organs and AU's thematic programmes relating to peace building; and (iv) take up the functions currently vested in the AU Liaison Office in the Comoros, when it will be closed, in the middle of 2016 at the latest;

13. Commends SADC for its commitment to peace, stability and development in Madagascar and encourages it to persevere in its efforts. Council appeals to the international community, including AU Member States, to enhance its socioeconomic support to Madagascar, with a view to facilitating the recovery of the country;

14. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.