Communiqué for the 934th meeting of the PSC held on 26 June 2020, on the Fifth (5th) anniversary of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali

COMMUNIQUE

Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 934^thmeeting held on 26 June 2020, on the 'Fifth (5^th) anniversary of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, resulting from the Algiers Process: Necessity to enhance the support to Malians in order to accelerate the implementation and the ownership of the Agreement';

Taking note of the opening remarks made by the Permanent Representative of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria to the AU and Chairperson of the PSC for the month of June 2020, Ambassador Salah Francis Elhamdi, as well as the statements made by the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui; the Representative of the Republic of Mali, Ambassador Abdoulaye Tounkara; the Commissioner for Peace, Security and Political Affairs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), General Francis Behanzin, andthe presentation made by the Chief of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and Special Representative ofthe UN Secretary-General, AmbassadorMahamat Saleh Annadif;

Observing a minute of silence to pay tribute to the African civilians and the soldiers of the national armies of Sahel countries and the MINUSMA, victims ofthe terrorist attacks;

Recalling its previous communiques and press statements on the situation in Mali and in the Sahel region, in particular communiques [PSC/PR/COMM. (CMXX)][PSC/PR/COMM.(DCCCLXIII)] [PSC/PR/COMM. (DCCCXXXIX)],

[PSC/PR/COMM.(DCCLIX)] and [PSC/PR/COMM.(DCLXXIX)] adopted during its 920^th, 863^rd, 839^th, 759^thand 679^thmeetings held, respectively, on21 April 2020, 25 July 2019,9 April 2019, 23 March 2018 and 13 April 2017;

Recalling that the Algiers process was facilitated by the International Mediation composed of bilateral and multilateral partners of Mali and led by Algeria, according to the principles of transparency and inclusivity;

Giving a particular attention to the state of implementation of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in Mali, in view to assess the five (5) years since its signing in June 2015, in order to identify the areas of progress and challenges and fields to be improved to ensure an effective implementation ofthe Agreement;

Reaffirming that the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement takes into account the local nature of Malian social components and adopt a political governance based on decentralized administration in order to involve the population in the management of their own affairs at the local level and to be represented adequately at the national level;

Also reaffirming that the Algiers Agreement offers opportunities in terms of economic, social and cultural perspectives in the framework of a participatory approach adapted to the local socio-cultural and geographical features of the Malian population;

Further reajfirming the unwavering AU respect for the sovereignty, unity and the territorial integrity of Mali, as well as AU's solidarity with People and Government of Mali;

Mindful of the need for Malian stakeholders to uphold their commitment towards the full implementation of the Agreement, as the unique and balanced framework to resolve their differences;

Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council

1. Expresses, once again, its unwavering support to the Government and People of the Republic of Mali in their efforts and their continuous commitment during the last five years, towards owning and implementing the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali in its four components, despite a number of challenges facing the process;

2. Commends the Malian Government and the signatory movements for having upheld the ceasefire since the signing of the Agreement, as well as for their commitment to fully cooperate with the members of the International Mediation in Mali, led by Algeria, within the Follow-up Committee of the Agreement (CSA), and encourages all Malian actors to continue to preserve the political and security achievements and to exert efforts to expedite the implementation ofthe Agreement;

3. Expresses its appreciation to President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, for his unflinching commitment to peace and reconciliation in Mali; welcomes the progress made in the implementation ofthe Agreement since its signing in 2015, in particular the establishment of the Interim Authorities in Three of the five regions in Northern Mali in the spirit of decentralization; the convening of the National Inclusive Dialogue; the progress made in the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration process (DDR)and the establishment of related Commissions; the reintegration of former combatants in the new recomposed national forces as well as the launching of the process aiming at establishing the 2^nd Chamber of the Parliament;

4. Takes note with satisfaction of the deployment of the reconstituted units of the Malian Armed Forces in northern Mali, particularly in Kidal, Gao and Tombouctou and the establishment of the Regional Development Agencies as well as the operationalization of the Sustainable Development Fund;

5. Welcomes the operationalization of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission and the validation of the Reparation Policy and the holding of it first public audiences and takes note of the elaboration of the Peace, unity and National Reconciliation Charter and the signing ofthe Pact for Peace;

6. Takes note of the current efforts being deployed by Malian stakeholders, as well as civil society organizations, to continue with inclusive consultations and enhanced inter­Malian dialogue to reach a broad consensus on the constitutional review process to accelerate the implementation of the provisions of the Agreement as part of the search for lasting peace, security and stability in Mali;

1. Notes the delays in terms of full and comprehensive implementation of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement, which are due mainly to the worsening of the security situation imposed by the extension of the terrorist menace to the Center of Mali and borders area with Burkina Faso and Niger;

8. Condemns firmly the terrorist groups attacks in the Sahel region targeting the civilian populations and national armies' soldiers and stressing the constraints imposed by terrorist threat which is jeopardizing the already fragile stability in Mali and the effective implementation ofthe Peace and Reconciliation Agreement;

9. Commends Algeria, in its capacity as the Chair of the CSA and concerned neighboring country, for its tireless efforts aimed at assisting the Malian parties to find peaceful solution to their challenges including through the holding of the Fortieth Ordinary Session, in Bamako, on 11 June 2020, which contribute to resolve pending issues in the implementation of the Agreement; expresses gratitude for the military material support provided by Algeria, estimated at five(5) million Euros worth of equipment for a battalion of the Malian reconstituted Army deployed to Kidal northern region, which leads to its full operationalization;

10. Emphasizes the urgent need for the Malians parties to make all efforts to further accelerate the implementation of the Algiers Agreement, which remains the cornerstone and the most viable framework for the resolution of the crisis in the country; highlights that the Algiers Agreement benefits from a wide international support and recognition as it embodies a real project of peace building, reconciliation and development and remains the only way to further isolate the armed terrorist groups in Mali and the whole Sahel region, who are the only beneficiaries of a stalemate in the peace process;

11. Underlines the need for continued efforts for the deployment of the Malian institutional authorities in all parts of the country and restoring the State authority especially in the North and Center regions;

12. Reaffirms its full support to MINUSMA for its support to the Malian stakeholders in the implementation of the Agreement, as the most important strategic task of the Mission, despite the challenging conditions in which it conducting its operations; and pays tribute to African troop and police contributing countries to the MINUSMA;

13. Requests the Malian Government, the signatories' movements and the International Mediation members, in the context of accelerating the implementation of the Agreement, to come up with an updated roadmap taking into consideration the urgent priorities within the Agreement to be expeditiously addressed, including budget and timelines;

14. Also requests the International Mediation to pursue its permanent consultations and support, in the framework of the Follow-up Committee, to reach an effective implementation of the peace Agreement and calls upon partners to continue their support to the socio-economic development of the North regions, according to the Agreement, as the peace, security and development are intrinsically related;

15. Decides to remain seized ofthe matter.