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The African Union (A.U.) has been urged by the chairman of the pan-African body's Peace and Security Council not to send observers to monitor Egypt's presidential polls next month, Anadolu Agency has learnt.
In a confidential recommendation circulated among council members and seen by Anadolu Agency, Council Chairman Bulus Paul Lolo called on A.U. officials to shun Egypt's upcoming polls given that former military chief Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi – widely seen as the driving force behind last summer's ouster of elected president Mohamed Morsi – had decided to run for the top post.
In his non-binding recommendation, Lolo said al-Sisi's presidential bid contravened the A.U.'s charter, as the former army chief led a coup against a democratically elected president last year while serving as defense minister.
The recommendation comes only days before an A.U. hearing to review a report on a recent visit to Cairo by the A.U.'s High-Level Panel for Egypt.
Egypt's A.U. membership was suspended two days after the army ousted Morsi last July – a measure taken by the pan-African body automatically in the event of an unconstitutional change of government in a member state.
Egypt completed the first phase of an army-imposed transitional roadmap in January by holding a referendum on an amended version of the constitution.
Egyptians will elect a new president on May 26-27 in the second phase of the roadmap, which should be completed later this year with the holding of parliamentary polls.
Egypt's interim government has invited several international and regional bodies to send observers to monitor next month's elections, which it has vowed would be fair and transparent.
By Mohamed Taha Tawakel
englishnews@aa.com.tr - Addis Ababa
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