Communiqué of the 1165th Meeting of the Peace and Security Council held on 31 July 2023, on the Consideration of the Mid-Year Report of the Chairperson of the Commission on Elections in Africa, Covering the Period from January to June 2023 and the Outlook of Elections to be Organized in Africa During the Second Half of the Year.

Abstract

The Council adopted the Report of the Chairperson of the AU Commission on Elections in Africa for the Period January to June 2023. While congratulating Member States that successfully organized elections during the first half of 2023 in a peaceful, transparent and credible manner, Council appealed to Member States to continue deepening and consolidating democracy, including through the regular organization of inclusive, transparent, free and fair, as well as credible elections. Council also highlighted the need for Member States to (i) ensure that national Election Management Bodies are adequately capacitated (ii) continue to promote and strengthen consensual democracy, prioritize dialogue between and among political actors; (iii) adopt election code of conduct (iv) utilize existing legal channels for addressing any elections-related disputes, and (v) continue to promote gender-responsive electoral laws, policies and strategies and to ensure equal access to political participation for women. Member States that have not yet done so, were also encourage to expedite the signature and ratification of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. The AU Commission was requested to expedite the finalization of the Draft Terms of Reference and operationalization of the AU Sanctions Committee. Lastly, Emphasizes the need for all Member States that will be organizing elections in the second half of 2023 to take necessary measures, with the support of the AU Commission and the RECs/RMs, to ensure inclusive, peaceful, credible and transparent democratic elections.