The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, meeting at its 9th Extra-Ordinary Session, held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 23 February to 03 March 2011:
Recalling its mandate of promoting and protecting human and peoples’rights on the African Continent pursuant to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter);
Considering the provisions of the United Nations Charter, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and those of the African Charter and of other regional and international human rights and international humanitarian law Conventions to which the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire is signatory;
Recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res.14 (XVI) 94 on the human rights situation in Africa adopted during its 16th Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia,from 25 October to 3 November1994 and ACHPR/Res. 67(XXXV)04 on the situation In Coted’Ivoire adopted duringits35th Ordinary Session held from 21 May to 4 June 2004 in Banjul, The Gambia;
Deeply concerned about the political deadlock following the proclamation of the results of the 28 November 2010 Presidential Elections and about the worsening of the violence marked by clashes between the civilian populations andthedefenceandsecurityforces which, to date, have given rise to hundreds of deaths;
Recalling recommendations from the Peace and Security Council of the 27 December 2010 on the situation in Cote d’Ivoire, which calls for the search for an immediate and peaceful solution to the Ivorian crisis;
Acknowledging the noteworthy role played by ECOWAS in the effort to restore peace and stability in Cote d’Ivoire;
Appreciating the efforts deployed by the African Union to facilitate the restoration of peace in Cote d’Ivoire, as well as the decision taken to set up a panel comprising five Heads of State for the purpose of finding a peaceful solution to the crisis;
Deploring the humanitarian consequences of the conflict linked to the flood of Ivorian refugees to neighbouring States and the particularly disquieting situation of women and children;
Strongly condemns all threats and attempts at intimidation directed against the impartial Forces in Cote d’Ivoire, in particular the Forces of the United Nations Mission in Cote d’Ivoire (ONUCI), and strongly opposes the deliberate obstructions intended to hinder the fulfilment of its mission;
Calls on all Parties concerned to work towards the restoration of peace and security, and on the political actors to respect the verdict of the ballot box in the supreme interest of the country;
Urges the Panel of the Five Heads of State designated by the AU Heads of State and Governments, to reach a solution, as quickly as possible to put an end to the suffering of the Ivorian population;
Urgently Invites all the opposing Forces to respect the established cease fire and to refrain from all acts that seek to violate the arms embargo.
Done in Banjul, The Gambia, 3 March 2011.
