Media Statement on a Working Visit to Mauritania and Côte D’Ivoire by His Excellency President Jacob Zuma as a Member of the African Union (AU) High Level Panel on the Resolution of the Crisis in Côte D’Ivoire

His Excellency President Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa, will travel to Mauritania on 20 February 2011 then Cote d’Ivoire on 21 February 2011 on a working visit.  The President will be undertaking this visit in his capacity as a member of the High‐Level Panel for the Resolution of the Crisis in Côte d'Ivoire.

The High‐Level Panel was established by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at the 259th meeting of Heads of State and Government held in Addis Ababa on 28 January 2011. The Panel met on 31 January 2011, under the chairmanship of H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, to determine its programme of work. The Team of Experts appointed by the panel, will submit its findings to the members of the High‐Level Panel at a preparatory meeting to be held in Nouakchott, Mauritania, on 20 February 2011. The Panel will thereafter travel to Côte d’Ivoire to meet with the parties and submit proposals for a resolution.     
        
The High-Level Panel, representing the five Regions of the Continent, is composed of the leaders of Burkina Faso (West Africa), Chad (Central Africa), Mauritania (North Africa), South Africa (Southern Africa), and Tanzania (East Africa), as well as the Chairperson of the AU Commission and the President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).  It will work alongside the current Head of the African Union and the leader of the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS.

In accordance with the mandate from the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), the Panel is expected to conclude its work before the end of February and its conclusions, which must be endorsed by Council, will be binding on all the Ivorian parties with whom these conclusions would have been negotiated.

President Zuma will return to South Africa on 22 February 2011. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will support the President on the visit. 

Enquiries: Clayson Monyela, Public Diplomacy, Department of International Relations and Cooperation on 082 884 5974

Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation
460 Soutpansberg Road
Pretoria
0001

16 February 2011