Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Jean Ping, welcomes the successful completion of the presidential election in Somalia, which was held in a transparent and fair manner. He congratulates Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on his election as the new President of the Federal Republic of Somalia. He also commends the outgoing President, Sheikh Shariff Ahmed, for having gracefully conceded defeat and for his significant contribution to the peace and reconciliation process in his country.

The Chairperson of the Commission notes that yesterday’s election, following the adoption of a new interim Constitution and the selection of a new Parliament, marks the conclusion of the transition. It therefore ushered in a new chapter in the history of Somalia.

While commending all the Somali stakeholders and people for the maturity and commitment they have displayed over the past few weeks to complete the transition, in difficult circumstances, he urges them to remain steadfast and to continue to be driven by the higher interests of their country, in order to overcome the many challenges that lie ahead. He calls on them to build on the significant results thus achieved and the progress that continues to be made on the ground by the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Somali forces to further the peace and reconciliation process.

The Chairperson of the Commission wishes to assure the Somali stakeholders and people of the AU’s continued support in their efforts. In particular, the AU, through AMISOM, will continue to work towards the improvement of the security situation and the extension of State authority, the building of strong and effective Somali security forces and the reconstruction of the country. He acknowledges the critical role that the region, in particular IGAD and the East.

African Community, and the rest of the international community, notably the United Nations, the European Union, the League of Arab States, as well as the United States and other bilateral partners, have played in the results achieved so far. He calls on the AU member states and partners alike to remain actively engaged and to enhance their assistance to Somalia to enable it meet the even more demanding and complex tasks ahead.

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The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Jean Ping, notes with concern the growing tension that prevails in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on the eve of the holding of crucial elections, on November 28, 2011. In this regard, he deplores the violence that took place in Kinshasa, on November 26, 2011, which resulted in loss of life, as well as the various other incidents that marred the election campaign.

The Chairperson of the Commission recalls that the elections of November 28, 2011, the second after the long and bloody conflict in the DRC, should help consolidate peace and national reconciliation, strengthen the democratic process and lay the foundations for sustainable socio‐economic development for the benefit of all the Congolese people.

The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates the message of restraint and the call for responsibility that he conveyed to the Congolese political actors during the working visit he undertook to the DRC, from November 6 to 8, 2011, following the pre‐electoral mission that the AU Panel of the Wise undertook to that country at the beginning of October, as well as the press statement of the 298th meeting of the Peace and Security of the AU, held on November 17, 2011.

In this context, he stresses the need for all stakeholders in the electoral process to exercise utmost restraint, to work towards creating the climate necessary for the holding of peaceful elections, and, should the results be challenged, to resort to the procedures and mechanisms provided to this end.

The Chairperson of the Commission encourages all Congolese voters to participate massively in the elections and to demonstrate the required level of civility for these elections to mark an important moment in the history of the DRC. The AU is closely coordinating its action with the various concerned international actors, and will spare no effort to support the promotion of peace and democracy in the DRC.

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