AU / Press statement of the 311th meeting of the Peace and Security Council

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, February 17, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 311th meeting, held on 16 February 2012, was briefed by the Department of Political Affairs of the Commission on its activities related to election observation on the Continent, in implementation of the recommendations of the Panel of the Wise, as contained in its report on conflicts and violence related to elections as adopted by the Assembly of the Union at its 13th Ordinary Session held in Sirte, from 1st to 3rd July 2009 [decision Assembly/AU/Dec.13(XII)Rev.1].

In this context, Council noted with satisfaction, that the Commission is to dispatch an election observer mission to Senegal, on the occasion of thepresidential election, whose first round is scheduled for 26 February 2012.

Council, as part of its mandate in conflict prevention and monitoring of democratic processes on the Continent,agreed to hold, every two months, a session to review the electoral processes on the Continent.

Council took the opportunity to welcomethe entry into force on 15 February 2012, of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance andurged all Member States that have not yet done so to take the necessary steps to become parties to this important instrument.