Statement issued by the AU Panel of Eminent African Personalities on the appointment of Kenya’s Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission

AFRICAN UNION PANEL OF EMINENT AFRICAN PERSONALITIES 

Press Release issued by H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan

For immediate release, Friday, 24 July 2009

The Panel of Eminent African Personalities congratulates Kenya’s Coalition Government on the appointment of the members of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC).

The Panel hopes that the early operationalisation of the TJRC will help promote peace, justice, national unity, healing and reconciliation among the people of Kenya.

The Panel is of the view that, for the Commission to achieve its objectives, it will require the sustained engagement and full cooperation of a broad cross-section of Kenyan society, including civil society, political and religious leaders, the private sector, the media and other key stakeholders.

We also call on the international community to extend its support to the work of the TJRC, which is a key component of the reform agenda agreed on during the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation (KNDR) talks.

We trust that the six Kenyan members, who were selected through a consultative process, and the three international members, who were nominated by the Panel, will work assiduously to accomplish the Commission’s onerous responsibilities.

The Panel remains committed to supporting Kenya’s leaders and people in the implementation of the KNDR agreements.

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