The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 265th meeting, held
on 10 March 2011, at the level of Heads of State and Government, adopted the following
decision on the situation in Côte d’Ivoire:

Council,

1. Takes note of the report of the High‐Level Panel for the Resolution of the Crisis in
Côte d’Ivoire, established pursuant to paragraph 6 of communiqué PSC/AHG/Comm(CCLIX)
adopted at its 259th meeting held on 28 January 2011 [Document PSC/AHG/2 (CCLXV)].
Council also takes note of the statements made by President Alassane Dramane Ouattara
and by the representative of His Excellency Laurent Gbagbo;

2. Reaffirms all its previous decisions on the post‐electoral crisis facing Côte d’Ivoire
since the second round of the presidential election, on 28 November 2010, recognizing the
election of Mr. Alassane Dramane Ouattara as the President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire;

3. Commends the High‐Level Panel for its commitment and the sustained efforts it has
made in search for a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire. In this regard, Council
pays tribute to Presidents Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania, Jacob Zuma of South
Africa, Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Idriss Déby Itno of
Chad, as well as to the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Dr. Jean Ping, and the President
of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Mr.
James Victor Gbeho, for their contribution to the search for a solution to the current crisis in
Côte d’Ivoire. Council also commends all those who have extended cooperation to the High‐
Level Panel in the discharge of its mandate. Council expresses its appreciation to the
Secretary‐General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki‐moon, for the support extended to the
Panel, through his Special Representative for West Africa, Saïd Djinnit;

4. Expresses its grave concern at the rapidly deteriorating security and humanitarian
situation since the announcement of the results of the second round of the presidential
election. Council notes that, in the absence of a speedy solution to the crisis, Côte d’Ivoire is
likely to sink into widespread violence, with incalculable consequences for the country, as
well as for the region and the continent as a whole;

5. Reiterates its firm condemnation of all atrocities and other violations of human
rights, threats and acts of intimidation, as well as acts of obstruction directed at the
operations of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI ), and deeply regrets
the loss of life and destruction of property that occurred in parts of Côte d’Ivoire;

6. Reaffirms its conviction that the post‐electoral crisis in Côte d’Ivoire requires an
overall political solution that preserves democracy and peace, and promotes lasting
reconciliation among all Ivorians;

7. Endorses the recommendations of the High‐Level Panel as contained in its report, as
well as the proposals made for an overall political solution to the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire,
which offer a viable basis for a way out of the crisis that reconciles respect for democracy
and the quest for peace. In this regard, Council recalls the provisions of paragraph 6 (c) of
the communiqué of its 259th meeting stating that the Panel’s conclusions, as endorsed by
Council, will be binding on all Ivorian parties;

8. Requests the Chairperson of the Commission to appoint a High Representative for
the implementation of the overall political solution, as endorsed by Council, and to
complete the process for a way out of the crisis as follows:
(i) convening, under the auspices of the AU and ECOWAS, within the next two
weeks, of negotiations between the Ivorian parties to develop modalities for
the implementation of the proposals submitted by the High‐Level Panel as
endorsed by Council, with all the necessary guarantees for all concerned
actors, in particular for the outgoing President, H.E. Laurent Gbagbo,
(ii) mobilization of the support of AU partners for the early conclusion of the
Agreement for a way out of the crisis, and
(iii) submission, to a meeting of Council, of a comprehensive report on the results
of its efforts;

9. Calls upon the Ivorian parties to extend full cooperation for the effective
implementation, within the agreed timeframe, of the Panel’s proposals, and to refrain from
any action likely to complicate the situation and the process for a way out of the crisis;

10. Underlines its determination to take, in light of the results of the negotiations
referred to in paragraph 8 (i) hereof, and on the basis of the relevant instruments of the AU,
all measures that the situation would require;

11. Requests the Chairperson of the Commission to transmit this decision to the United
Nations Security Council, ECOWAS and other AU partners;

12. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.