Attachments
Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 1162nd meeting held on 20 July 2023, on Updated Briefing on the Situation in the Sahel.
The Peace and Security Council,
Recalling Declaration [Ext/Assembly/AU/Decl. (XVI)] on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government, adopted by the 16th Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, from 27 to 28 May 2022; and Decision [Assembly/AU/Dec.792(XXXIII)] on the situation in Libya and Sahel, adopted by the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, held in February 2020;
Also recalling its previous decisions and pronouncements on the situations in Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, and Guinea, as well as in the Sahel region;
Taking note of the opening statement by H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Lamine Thiaw**,** Permanent Representative of the Republic of Senegal to the African Union (AU) and Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council of the AU for July 2023; the introductory remarks by H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; the briefing by the AU High Representative for Mali/Sahel and Head of the AU Mission in Mali and the Sahel (MISAHEL); also taking note of the statements by the representative of the G5 Sahel Secretariat; the representatives of the following members of the G5 Sahel, namely: Chad, Mauritania and Niger; as well as the statements by the representatives of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS); Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS); the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU).
Reaffirming the determination to silence the guns in Africa by the year 2030 and creating the conducive conditions for the realization of the AU Vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its people and representing a dynamic force in the global arena, as well as AU Agenda 2063;
Also reaffirming the AU’s respect for the independence, sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity of the countries of the Sahel region; and
Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council:
1. Takes note with deep concern the persistent and deteriorating security crisis in the Sahel region, resulting from the increasing terrorist attacks and the growing number of victims, particularly civilians, including women and children, as well as the social and economic challenges that continue to undermine the peace, security, stability and development in the region;
2. Strongly condemns all terrorist attacks in the countries of the region particularly those deliberatly targeting national and international forces, including the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA); expresses condolences to the bereaved families and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured victims;
3. Requests the AU Commission, working in close collaboration with the CEN-SAD, ECCAS, ECOWAS, and the G-5 Sahel, to mobilize the required support for countries affected by the scourge of terrorism in the Sahel region; and appeals to the international community, humanitarian aid agencies, as well as Member States in a position to do so, and in the spirit of pan-African solidarity, to support humanitarian efforts in favour of the countries of the Sahel region;
4. Expresses deep concern over the potential negative impact of the withdrawal of MINUSMA, particularly on the implementation of the 2015 Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in Mali emanating from the Algiers Process, and stresses the need to preserve the gains made, in particular the ceasefire, and to create conditions for the early and sustainable relaunching of the peace process and in this respect, requests the AU Commission to urgently initiate consultations with the chef de file of the International Mediation and other members of the Mediation, including ECOWAS and the UN, as well as with the Malian parties, on how the AU could further help in the maintenance and functioning of critical arrangements related to the implementation of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement.
5. Welcomes the recent Summit of the G5 Sahel Joint forces; encourages them to further enhance their institutional cohesion and take necessary steps to preserve the gains achieved thus far, maintain the momentum and avoid the creation of a security vacuum in the Sahel region;
6. Reiterates the importance of comprehensive, multi-dimensional, whole of society and whole of government approaches to effectively address the structural root causes and drivers of the security challenges facing the Sahel region
7. Underlines the importance of enhanced inter-state solidarity between and among the countries of the region affected by the scourge of terrorism, including through sharing of information, intelligence and conducting joint operations;
*8. *Underscores the need for the countries of the region to ensure active presence of the State in areas liberated from terrorist groups, including through the provision of basic public services, quick impact and peace strengthening projects, as well as recovery and stabilization assistance as peace dividends;
9. Looks forward to the outcome of the Joint AU, UN, ECOWAS and G5 Sahel Strategic Assessment led by H.E. Issoufou Mahamadou, former President of the Republic of Niger and Chairperson of the Independent High-Level Group on Security and Development in the Sahel;and requests the AU Commission to remain actively involved in the quest for lasting solutions to the challenges facing all countries of the Sahel region particularly those undergoing complex political transitions;
10. Welcomes the progress made in Mali, including the establishment and operationalization of the Independent Elections Management Authority (AIGE), and urgesthe transitional authorities to continue their efforts in providing the AIGE with optimal operational capacity for the post-transition elections; also welcomes the holding of the constitutional referendum on 18 June 2023, and encourages the government to continue its efforts towards completing the transition process;
11. Also expresses deep concern over the persistent deadlock in the peace process in Mali and urges the Transitional Authorities and signatory movements to resume dialogue as the only viable approach towards reaching consensual solutions to the challenges being faced; commends the efforts of international mediators led by Algeria and ***encourages ***all stakeholders to continue to use their good offices, in order to ensure the resumption of the peace process;
12. Further expresses deep concern over the delays in the transition processes in countries in the Sahel region; and strongly urges the transitional authorities of Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali to take necessary steps to resume constructive engagements and dialogue with ECOWAS and, in this context, ***encourages ***them to facilitate the visit to Mali by H.E. Goodluck Ebélé Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS Mediator for Mali; to Burkina Faso by H.E. Issoufou Mahamadou, former President of Niger and ECOWAS Mediator for Burkina Faso; as well as the visit to Guinea by H.E. Thomas Yayi Boni, former President of Benin and ECOWAS Mediator for Guinea;
13. Strongly urges the transitional authorities in these three countries to fully comply with the agreed transition timelines; in this regard, encourages them, as a matter of urgent necessity, to operationalize the Joint Transition Monitoring Committees in the respective countries; and to promote dialogue, inclusivity and consensus with political parties and Civil Society Organizations, in order to organize free, transparent and credible elections, leading to the restoration of constitutional order in their respective countries;
14. Calls upon the countries of the region to consolidate State authority, on the entire territory of their respective countries with a view to ensuring collective security of their people;
15. Requests the AU Commission and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to expedite the operationalization of the recently launched Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions (AFSIT);in order to provide timely programmatic support to countries in complex political transition and countries at risk of political instability in the region; and to provide the Council with regular updates on the situation in the Sahel region; and
16. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.