Communiqué of the 1027th meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council on the situation in Mali and Consideration of the Report of the PSC Evaluation Mission to Mali, 2 September 2021

AFRICAN UNION

UNIAO AFRICANA

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Email: situationroom@africa-union.org

PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL 1027^th MEETING

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA 02 SEPTEMBER 2021

PSC/PR/COMM.1027(2021)

COMMUNIQUE

COMMUNIQUE

Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 1027^th meeting held on 2 September 2021, on the situation in Mali and Consideration of the Report of the PSC Evaluation Mission to Mali;

The Peace and Security Council,

Recalling its previous communiques and press statements on the situation in Mali and in the Sahel region, in particular Communique PSC/PR/COMM. (1001(2021)) adopted at its 1001^st meeting held on 01 June 2021; Communique [PSC/PR/COMM. (M)] adopted at its 1000^th meeting held on 25 May 2021 and Communique [PSC/PR/COMM.(CMXLI)] adopted at its 941^st meeting held on 19 August 2020;

Taking note of opening remarks by the PSC Chairperson for September 2021 and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Chad to the AU, H.E. Ambassador Mahamat Ali Hassan and the statements by the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye; H.E. Ambassador Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah, Permanent Representative of Ghana to the AU, as the representative of the chair of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), as well as the briefing by the High Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission and Head of the AU Mission for the Sahel (MISAHEL), H.E. Ambassador Maman Sidikou and the statements made by the representatives of the United Nations Office to the AU and the European Delegation to the AU;

Also taking note of the presentation by H.E. Ambassador Victor Adeleke, Permanent Representative of Federal Republic of Nigeria to the AU, on the Report of the PSC Evaluation Mission to Mali, in his capacity as Chairperson of the PSC for July 2021;

Reajfirming the unwavering commitment ofthe AU to respect the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Mali, as well as the AU's solidarity with the people and Government of Mali.

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

1. Welcomes the progress made by the Transition Government of Mali, in particular the adoption ofthe Government Action Plan for 2021-2022 by the National Transition Council (NTC), which outlines key priority areas, and objectives for implementation and, urges the Transition Government to expedite its actualization and roll-out, as well as ensure timely delivery as per the Transition Charter;

2. Commends the Transition Government of Mali on the lifting of restrictive measures on the two former transition leaders, H.E Mr. Mbah N'daw and former Prime Minister of the Transition H.E Mr. MoctarOuane; which is a demonstration of commitment and pledged respect to the principles of the OAU Charter on Human and People's Rights;

3. However, expresses deep concerns on the slow pace of implementation of the Government Action Plan for 2021 - 2022, as well as the lack of consensus towards the establishment of the independent election management body responsible for the organization of general elections and urgently calls on the Transition Government to establish a clear, precise and realistic chronogram, delineating the period and implementation of reforms, as well as the elections, within the collectively agreed 18 months transition period;

4. Pledges within the spirit of the steadfast commitment to the Malian people, to provide support to the Transition Government on issues related to consensus on all questions of reforms and elections; and requests the Commission to undertake requisite actions to that effect;

5. Calls upon the Transition Government to pursue good offices for a compromise on the organ responsible for organizing the general elections as per the indicated timelines of the Government Action Plan 2021-2022;

6. Encourages the Transition Government to sustain the momentum for the effective implementation ofthe Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali emanated from the 2015 Algiers process, in particular accelerating the Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process and the deployment ofthe Reconstituted Army battalions (BATFAR) in order to expedite the extension of state authority throughout the territory; in this regard, commends the efforts deployed by the Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Diaspora Abroad, H.E. Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, who has played an important role in mediation among the Malian parties during the 2015 crisis, in engaging the Malian authorities to accelerate the implementation ofthe Peace Agreement;

7. Requests the AU Commission to undertake a threat assessment with immediate effect, to assess the situation on ground and engage in active consultation with all key stakeholders including ECOWAS and provide a comprehensive report to Council on the findings and key recommendations, in this regard;

8. Urges the Transition Government in collaboration with the AU Commission, ECOWAS and key Stakeholders to revisit the Country's strategy on the Protection of Civilians, especially women and children in order to curb the rampant armed attacks on the civilian population;

9. Requests the AU Commission to finalize the Stabilization Strategy for the Sahel, in collaboration with the concerned Member States and the relevant Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs), namely ECCAS and ECOWAS, as well as key development partners with the view to ascertain a comprehensive and actionable strategy on countering violent extremism in the region;

10. Appeals to all Member States and partners to provide technical and financial support to the Transition Government in order to support the implementation of the four priority axes enumerated within the Government Action Plan, adopted by the National Transition Council;

11. Requests the Commission to convene the third meeting of the Mali Transition Support Group (GST-M), initially scheduled for June 2021 in Bamako, with a view to mobilizing partners to support the transition;

12. Adopts its Report of the Evaluation Mission to Mali, which took place from 14 to 17 July 2021, with its findings and recommendations; expresses gratitude to the Malian authorities for finding time to interact with the PSC Delegation during the Evaluation Mission, as well as to all interlocutors;

13. Looks forward to the outcome of the upcoming visit of the the ECOWAS Special Envoy and Mediator to Mali, H.E. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President ofthe Federal Republic of Nigeria, to Mali and agrees to consider the situation in Mali, as soon as possible, following the outcome of his visit in the country;

14. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.