The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 14th Extraordinary Session held from 20 to 24 July 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya:
Recallingits mandate to promote and protect human and peoples’ rights in Africa in accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter);
Further recallingthe obligations of the Republic of Mali under the African Charter and other regional and international human rights instruments ratified by Mali;
RecallingArticle 13(1) of the African Charter which stipulates that “every citizen shall have the right to participate freely in the government of his country, either directly or through freely chosen representatives in accordance with the provisions of the law”;
Consideringthe African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance which underscores the need to establish on the continent a culture of political change of power based on the holding of free, fair and transparent elections organised by competent, independent and impartial national electoral institutions;
Reaffirmingits commitment to promoting democracy in Africa and recognising that good governance, transparency and respect for human rights are fundamentalprinciples that contribute to peace and development in Africa;
Bearing in mindits previous resolutions on the human rights situation in northern Maliand the relevant decisionson Mali of the AU Peace and Security Council and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS);
NotingtheOuagadougou agreement of 18 June 2013 between the transitional Government of National Unity of the Republic of Mali and the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad and the High Council for the Unity of Azawad, as well as theconsensus among the Malian authorities and political parties regarding the holding of the presidential election on 28 July 2013;
Deeply concernedby the atmosphere of insecurity on the eve of the presidential election which is marked by recent violence in the Kidal region between the Tuareg community and the Songhaï and other communities, as well as the loss of human lives and destruction of property;
Particularly concernedby the abduction on 20 July 2013, inTessalitin the Kidal region, ofsix people including 5 electoral officers and one localelected official by armed groups;
Strongly condemnsthe acts of violence and violations of human rights in the Kidal region, as well as the abduction of individuals;
Urgesthe transitional Government to take the necessary measures to put an end to human rights violations and acts of violence, and to ensure the security of the population throughout its territory;
Further urgesthe Malian authorities to take the necessary measures to put an end to impunity, including by ensuring that the perpetrators and accomplices of these acts of violence are brought to justice;
Calls onthe Malian authorities to take the necessary measures to ensure the necessary conditions for all Malian citizens, including refugees and internally displaced persons, to exercise their political right to vote and elect the leaders of their choice;
Further calls onthe Malian Government to take the necessary measures to preserve social peace towards creating the necessary conditions for credible, free, transparent and peaceful elections;
Urgesall the parties to respect and effectively implement the Ouagadougou agreement of 18 June 2013 between the transitional Gove rnment of National Unity of the Republic of Mali and the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad and the High Council for the Unity of Azawad;
Calls onthe Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and the international community to closely monitor political developments in Mali and to support the efforts of the Government and other Malian political stakeholders towards ensuring the smooth conduct of the polls;
Further calls on all political stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue, to exercise restraint, and to respect the results of the polls towards restoring lasting peace and security, as well as trust and national unity in the Republic of Mali.
Nairobi, Kenya, 24 July 2013
