20110115
African Union

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 257 th meeting held on 15 January 2011, considered the situation in Tunisia, in the light of the departure of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. In this respect, Council followed a briefing by the Permanent Representative of Tunisia to the African Union.

Council strongly condemned the excessive use of force against the demonstrators, resulting in loss of life, and stressed the need to spare no efforts to avoid any further loss of life.

Council expressed its solidarity with the people of Tunisia, and conveyed its condolences to the families of the victims and wished early recovery to the injured. Council urgently appealed to the Tunisians for calm and an end to all acts of violence and destruction of property.

Council also appealed to the political stakeholders and the Tunisian people to work together, in unity, consensus and respect for legality, towards a peaceful and democratic transition, which will allow the Tunisian people to freely choose their leaders through free, open, democratic and transparent elections.

Council requested the Chairperson of the Commission to continue to follow closely the situation in Tunisia and to take any initiative that he deems necessary with a view to contributing to a peaceful and democratic transition respecting the will of the people.

Council agreed to meet again, in due course, to review the evolution of the situation.