The AUC to deploy a joint AU COMESA EOM to Zimbabwe

3 August | The AUC Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, announced that the AUC will deploy a joint African Union (AU) and Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Zimbabwe to observe its 2023 Harmonized Elections scheduled for 23August. The Joint AU-COMESA EOM will be composed of 73 short-term observers and three Core Team electoral experts, who will be deployed to observe the elections from 16 to 29 August 2023. The joint Mission will be led by H.E. Goodluck Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in collaboration with Rt. Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda. The overall objective of the Joint AU-COMESA EOM is to provide an impartial assessment of the quality of the 23 August Harmonized Elections in Zimbabwe, based on the Continental and International standards for democratic elections. The Joint AU-COMESA EOM also aims at elaborating recommendations for improvement of future Elections based on tangible findings. Read more here.

AU supports the launch of the African Women for Transitional Justice programme

4 August | In Nairobi, Kenya, the AU with the support of the host country, organized an event to launch the African Women for Transitional Justice (AW4TJ) programme, following the inaugural training and network-building session for women in transitional justice. The EU Consortium on Transitional Justice in Africa, composed of the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR), the International Center for Transitional justice, (ICTJ) and the Africa Transitional Justice Legacy Fund (ATJLF), the German International Cooperation (GIZ), and the European Center for Electoral Support (ECES), also contributed to the organization of the event. The AW4TJ was created to promote network-building and trainings for African women engaged in transitional justice processes but also to organize trainings and promote information exchanges, experience sharing and good practices for developing   transitional justice processes and programs that address the experiences of women and girls. Read the full article here.

AUC Chairperson issues communiqué in support of the ECOWAS decisions regarding Niger

11 August | The Chairperson of the AUC, Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, issued a communiqué expressing his strong support for the decisions adopted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on 10 August 2023, regarding the unconstitutional change of government in Niger. The Chairperson expressed his deep concern at the reported poor conditions of detention of President Mohamed Bazoum and called on the military authorities to urgently halt the deterioration of relations with the regional organization ECOWAS. Read more here.

AU Panel of the Wise issues statement on Senegal

14 August | The AU Panel of the Wise (PoW) issued a statement noting with appreciation the 3 July announcement of the President of the Republic of Senegal, Mr. Macky Sall, not to seek the office of the Presidency for a third consecutive term through a constitutional amendment. The Panel commended the President for the astute decision taken on the issue that had, in recent months, divided the people of Senegal and concerned the regional and international communities. The PoW recalled that Senegal has long served as one of the best examples of democratic governance in Africa and has been a source of inspiration for many both continentally and globally. Read the full statement here. 

AUPSC issues communiqué adopted at its 1168th meeting held on the situation in Niger

14 August | The AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) adopted a communiqué at its 1168th meeting held on the situation in the Republic of Niger. In its communiqué, the AUPSC, reiterated its unequivocal condemnation of the military coup d’état that took place on 26 July in Niger. It welcomed the final communiqué of the Extraordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on the political situation in Niger, adopted on 30 July, and the ECOWAS final communiqué of the 2nd Extraordinary Summit on the political situation in Niger, adopted on 10 August. The AUPSC further took note of the ECOWAS’ decision to deploy a Standby Force and requested the AUC to undertake an assessment of the economic, social and security implications of deploying such a force in Niger and report back to the Council. Read full communique here. 

AUC Chairperson issues statement on the situation in Ethiopia

16 August | The AUC Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, issued a statement noting that he is following with grave concern, the continued military confrontations in the Amhara region of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The Chairperson, in his statement, reaffirmed the AU’s firm attachment to the constitutional order, territorial integrity, unity and national sovereignty of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to ensure stability in the country and in the region. In this regard, he strongly called for the parties to immediately cease the fighting and ensure the protection of civilians. He further urged the parties to engage in dialogue to reach a peaceful solution. The Chairperson reiterated the continued readiness of the AU to support an inter-Ethiopian initiative in the pursuit of peace and stability. Read the full statement here.

AUC Chairperson issues statement on the violent developments in Libya

17 August | The AUC Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, issued a statement noting that he is following with great concern the developments of the security situation in Tripoli, Libya. In his statement, he urged all stakeholders and all military, political and social actors to put an immediate end to all hostilities and underscored the imperative need to pursue ongoing efforts towards national reconciliation. Read the full statement here.

AU and COMESA issue arrival statement on Joint Election Observation Mission to the 23 August harmonized elections in the Republic of Zimbabwe

19 August | The AU and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) issued an arrival statement on the Joint Election Observation Mission to the 23 August harmonized elections in the Republic of Zimbabwe. At the invitation of the Government of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the AUC Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, approved the deployment of the joint short-term AU-COMESA mission to assess and report on the conduct of this election. The mission is led by former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in collaboration with former Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda and Member of the COMESA Committee of Elders, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda. It is comprised of 86 Short Term Observers drawn from Ambassadors accredited to the AU, Officials of Election Management Bodies, members of African civil society organisations, African election experts, Human Rights specialists, gender and media experts, and representatives of youth organizations. Read more here.

AUPSC issues communiqué adopted at its 1168^th Meeting on the situation in the Republic of Niger

21 August | The AUPSC issued a communiqué adopted at its 1168^th meeting on the situation in the Republic of Niger held on 14 August. The AUPSC reiterated deep concern over the resurgence of military coups d’état, unequivocally condemning the military coup d’état that took place on 26 July 2023 in Niger, which resulted in the ousting of a democratically elected President, H.E. Mohamed Bazoum, by a faction of military officers. It welcomed the final communiqué of the Extraordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on the Political Situation in Niger, adopted on 30 July 2023, and the ECOWAS Final Communique of the 2nd Extraordinary Summit on the Political Situation in Niger, adopted on 10 August 2023, and highly commended and supported the relentless efforts deployed by ECOWAS towards peaceful restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger. Read the full communique here. 

AU-COMESA and SADC statements on the 2023 Zimbabwe harmonized elections

25 August | The AU and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) released a preliminary statement on the 2023 Zimbabwe Harmonized Elections. The AU-COMESA EOM observed that the elections were conducted, up to the counting process, in a generally peaceful and transparent manner despite logistical challenges with the availability and distribution of local authority ballot papers in some areas. The report noted concerns expressed around the impartiality of polling stations staff, the voter registration process and verification of electoral rolls, and the raising of nomination fees for all levels of elections, the highest being for presidential nomination that was raised from $1,000 USD to $20,000 USD, further noting that this high increase disenfranchises eligible contenders particularly from under-represented groups. Read the full statement here.

SADC Electoral Observation Mission releases Preliminary statement on the 2023 Zimbabwe harmonized elections

25 August | The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observation Mission released a preliminary statement on the 2023 Zimbabwe harmonized elections, covering the Mission’s observations of the pre-election period, and voting day activities. In its summary of findings, SADC noted that the Election Observation Mission observed that although the pre-election and voting phases from 23 to 24 August were peaceful, and calm, some aspects of the Harmonized Elections fell short of the requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Electoral Act, and the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021). Read the full statement here.

3rd Annual Consultative Meeting between the PSC and RECs/RMs Policy Organs in Bujumbura, Burundi

28 August | The 3^rd Annual Consultative Meeting between the AUPSC and the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) Policy Organs took place in Bujumbura, Burundi. Pursuant to Article 16 of the Protocol relating to the Establishment of the AUPSC, and against the backdrop of previous PSC-RECs/RMs retreats, the meeting is an effort to harmonize regular engagement between the PSC and the RECs/RMs. At the 2^nd Consultative Meeting in August 2021, the PSC and RECs/RMs decided to convene twice-yearly consultative meetings at the strategic and political levels and a quarterly technical level meeting. The consultative meeting discussed the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government and an increasing spate of terrorism in Africa, as well as on the principles of subsidiarity and complementarity. Read more here.

AUC Chairperson issues statement on the situation in Gabon

30 August | Following the unconstitutional change of government in the Republic of Gabon, the AU Commission (AUC) Chairperson, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, issued a press release in which he expressed “great concern over the situation in Gabon” and strongly condemned “the attempted coup d'état in the country as a way out of the current post-electoral crisis”. Read the full statement here.

AU PSC adopts communiqué at its 1172nd meeting on the situation in the Republic of Gabon

31 August | The AUPSC convened an extraordinary session chaired by H.E. Ambassador Willy Nyamitwe, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Burundi to the AU and PSC Chairperson for the month of August, to discuss the situation in Gabon, following the ouster of President Ali Bongo Ondimba by the military power on 30 August. The PSC received a briefing by H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AUC, delivered on his behalf by H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), and a statement by the Representative of the Secretariat of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). Recalling the legal and policy frameworks and instruments of the Union, the PSC reiterated its deep concern over the resurgence of military coups d’états on the continent, stressing that they undermine democracy, peace, security, and stability, as well as development on the Continent, and strongly condemned the 30 August military coup d’état. Read full communique here.