South Sudan: Communiqué of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 416th meeting held at the level of Heads of State and Government, on the situation in the Republic of South Sudan

COMMUNIQUÉ

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 416th meeting held at the level of Heads of State and Government, on 29 January 2014, adopted the following decision on the situation in the Republic of South Sudan:

Council,

1. Takes note of the report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the situation in the Republic of South Sudan [PSC/AHG/3(CDXVI)], as well as of the statements made by the current Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the representative of the Republic of South Sudan;

2. Recalls its earlier communiqués and press statements on the situation in South Sudan, notably communiqué PSC/AHG/COMM.1(CDXI) adopted at its 411th meeting held in Banjul, The Gambia, on 30 December 2013, and press statement PSC/PR/BR.2(CDXIII) adopted at its 413th meeting held on 16 January 2014. Council further recalls resolution 2132 (2013) adopted by the United Nations (UN) Security Council, on 24 December 2013, as well as the press statements on the situation in South Sudan issued by the UN Security Council, on 30 December 2013 and on 23 January 2014, respectively,;

3. Reaffirms the AU’s principled position on the total rejection of unconstitutional changes of Government and of any attempt to seize power by force, in line with the AU Constitutive Act, as well as the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance;