The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 387^th meeting held at ministerial level on 29 July 2013, was briefed by the Commissioner for Peace and Security on the situation in Egypt and on follow-up to communiqué PSC/PR/ COMM.(CCCLXXXIV) adopted at its 384^th meeting held on 5 July 2013.

Council welcomed the establishment, by the Chairperson of the Commission, of the AU High-Level Panel for Egypt, comprising former President Alpha Oumar Konaré of Mali as Chair, former President Festus Mogae of Botswana and former Djiboutian Prime Minister Dileita Mohammed Dileita. Council noted with satisfaction the convening of the inaugural meeting of the Panel in Addis Ababa on 16 July 2013, as well as the ongoing consultations between the Panel and the Egyptian stakeholders, in Cairo, as part of the visit the Panel is undertaking to Egypt from 27 July to 5 August 2013. Council urged all Egyptian stakeholders to extend full cooperation to the Panel in the discharge of its mandate. 

Council reiterated its call to all Egyptian stakeholders to work together, in a spirit of mutual tolerance and compromise, towards an inclusive transition that would lead to the early return to constitutional order in the country. 

Council, deeply disturbed by the incidents of violence in Cairo and in other Egyptian cities, regretted the resulting casualties and expressed its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Council emphasized the need for respect of human rights, sanctity of human life and fundamental freedoms. Council further called on all parties to show utmost restraint and to place the interest of Egypt and its people above any other consideration. 

Council stressed the critical importance of Egypt to the rest of the African continent. Recalling Egypt’s outstanding contribution to the achievement of key objectives of the continent, Council underlined that a stable, democratic and peaceful Egypt is an important asset for the AU. Accordingly, Council reiterated the AU’s determination to do its utmost to assist Egypt in overcoming the current challenges facing it, in a spirit of African solidarity and in line with the relevant AU instruments.  

 

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