AFRICAN UNION

UNION AFRICAINE

UNIO AFRICANA Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. P. O. Box 3243 Telephone: 5517 700 Fax: 5511299 website : www. africa-union.org

DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

PRESS RELEASE

THE VISIT OF H.E. DR. AISHA L. ABDULLAHI, COMMISSIONER FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS TO THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA

H.E. Commissioner for PA meeting with H.E. the Minister of FA of Tunisia

Tunis, Tunisia, 14 February 2014: H.E. Dr. Aisha L. Abdullahi, Commissioner for Political Affairs of the African Union conducted an official visit to the Republic of Tunisia on 13-15 February 2014 to deliver a Congratularity Letter from H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission to H.E. Mr. Moncef Marzouki, President of the Republic of Tunisia on the occasion of adopting the new constitution of Tunisia.
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On the first day of the visit, H.E. the Commissioner for Political Affairs met with the Chairperson and members of the Tunisian National Independent Electoral Commission.

H.E. Commissioner for PA meeting with Members of the Tunisian National Electoral Commission

In this meeting, H.E. the Commissioner congratulated the Commission for a job well done in leading the process of the adoption of the new Constitution of Tunisia. She highlighted the mandate of the Department of Political Affairs (DPA) and in particular in the field of election monitoring and observation. She also explained the role played by the Democracy, Electoral Assistance Unit of the DPA in providing training and technical support to Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) in Africa. In addition, the Commissioner invited the Tunisian Electoral Commission to participate in the development of the African Association of Electoral Management Bodies that will bring together all commissions for sharing of information and exchange of best practices. On the second day of the visit, H.E. the Commissioner for Political Affairs met with H.E. Mr. Mongi Hamdi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia at the Ministrys headquarters. In this meeting, the Commissioner delivered a letter form H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission to H.E. Mr. Moncef

Marzouki, President of the Republic of Tunisia, congratulating him, his government and the people of Tunisia on the adoption of a new constitution for the country. H.E. Dr. Abdullahi is grateful to the Minister for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to her and her delegation since their arrival in Tunis. The Commissioner also reiterated the commitment of the DPA to support Tunisias National Electoral Commission by providing the necessary technical support and training to its members. This in addition to the availability of the DPA to monitor the upcoming election in Tunisia once the electoral law is adopted. H.E. Mr. Mongi Hamdi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia, thanked the Commissioner for Political Affairs for her visit and reiterated the commitment of the government of Tunisia to support the agenda of the African Union in all areas. For more information please contact: Mr. Salah S. Hammad, Human Rights Expert, Department of Political Affairs via: e-mail: HammadS@africa-union.org

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