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AU, UN call for peaceful repeat presidential poll in Kenya
23 Octobre 2017
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, October 23 (Infosplusgabon) - The African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat and the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres have called for a peaceful repeat presidential election in Kenya on Thursday, which the main opposition has decided to boycott.
In a joint statement on Monday, Guterres and Mahamat said their respective organisations were continuing to closely monitor developments in Kenya, in the light of the forthcoming election.
They urged all political actors, parties and their supporters to create conditions for peaceful election and refrain from any act of violence.
“It is critical that all concerned work towards the preservation of calm and peace in the country,” the statement said.
They urged the Kenyan security services to exercise restraint, use minimal force in performing their duties and respect the freedom and political liberties of all Kenyans.
The main opposition coalition, the National Super Alliance (NASA), has declined to participate in the election, saying its efforts to initiate reforms before the vote were ignored and stonewalled by the electoral body.
The Supreme Court in Kenya nullified the presidential election on 1 September saying it was conducted in contravention of the constitution and election laws. It recommended fresh elections be held within 60 days, which expires on 1 November.
Recalling the ruling of the Supreme Court, the AU and UN expressed their commitment to assist Kenya in ensuring a credible and transparent process.
The UN and the AU officials spoke a day after Pope Francis called for “constructive dialogue” in Kenya.
The main opposition coalition has been holding street demonstrations for the past five weeks while calling for minimum reforms to ensure the repeat elections are transparent.
Guterres and Mahamat said the parties in Kenya should uphold the constitutional process and asked opposition leader Raila Odinga, President Uhuru Kenyatta and all stakeholders to cooperate with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), as the constitutionally-mandated body to conduct the election.
The main opposition coalition has called for street demonstrations on Tuesday and Wednesday with a major one planned for election day.
FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/AIO/GABON 2017
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