Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 1 December 2015: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has congratulated the Transition Government and the people of Burkina Faso for holding historic, smooth and peaceful presidential and legislative elections on 29 November 2015, in Burkina Faso, bringing to an end the transition which started in November 2014.

The AUC Chairperson congratulates President-elect, Roch Marc KABORÉ and all newly elected Members of Parliament for the brilliant elections. She commends the courageous people of Burkina Faso and the Transition Government for their political maturity and high sense of responsibility in organising the elections in an atmosphere of peace and serenity, despite all the challenges faced by the Transition during its tenure. She notes with satisfaction that the Burkinabe actors were able , at every stage of the challenging period, to use the ingenuity of the people to resolve their differences and to move forward.

The Chairperson of the Commission encourages the new leadership and the Burkinabe people to continue with their efforts and to demonstrate a common sense of responsibility.

The Chairperson renews the assurance of the AU to pursue, with the firm collaboration of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the United Nations and all the bilateral and multilateral partners, its efforts to accompany and support a smooth end to the Transition process and, in the long term, reconciliation and the strengthening of democracy and the rule of law in the country.