Addis Ababa, 20 December 2012: Today, the Commissioner for Department of Political Affairs of the African Union Commission (AUC) H.E Dr. Aisha Abdullahi met with the Ambassador Extraordinary of the Republic of Japan to Ethiopia; Mr Hiroyusi Kishino in her office at the African Union Commission Headquarters to exchange views on Political, Governance, Human Rights, Democracy, Elections and Humanitarian issues in the African and on ways to work collaboratively with the People and Government of Japan to ensure sustainable political development in Africa.

The discussion and exchange focused on the need to ensure sustainable governance in African by deepening, popularising and implementing the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance across Member States. This becomes particularly important as a way of ensuring a soft approach to political stability, good governance and human rights in Africa and comes at a time when Kenya is preparing for a land mark Election on 4thMarch 2013.

Commissioner Abdullahi shared with the Ambassador the new and multifaceted approach of the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) from Short Term to Long Term Observation (LTO) and the involvement of AUC Political Leadership, Panel of the Wise and the Panel of Eminent African Personalities in the process to ensure successful Elections in Kenya.

Commissioner Abdullahi also highlighted the renewed commitment on the part of the Department of Political Affairs to work tirelessly with partners in ensuring political, governance and democratic stability in Africa but also pointed some of the challenges arising from the effort at institutionalising democratic stability and good governance in Africa.

Both Commissioner Abdullahi and Ambassador Kishino accepted the need for greater collaboration between the Department of Political Affairs and the Government and People of Japan towards Political Stability, Human Rights, Good Governance, Democratisation and concerted Humanitarian response in Africa.

Present at the Meeting from the Embassy of the Republic of Japan were Ambassador Hiroyuki Kishino and Aska Tekawa.