Communiqué of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 486th meeting on the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) and European Union Political and Security Committee (EUPSC) Joint Field Mission undertaken in Mali from 11 to 13 February 2015

AFRICAN UNION

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, P.O. Box 3243 Tel.: (251-11) 5513 822 Fax: (251-11) 5519 321

Email: situationroom@africa-union.org

PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL 486™ MEETING

19 FEBRUARY 2015

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

PSC/PR/COMM.(CDLXXXVI)

COMMUNIQUE

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COMMUNIQUE

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 486^th meeting, held on 19 February 2015, adopted the following decision on the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) and European Union Political and Security Committee (EUPSC) Joint Field Mission undertaken in Mali from 11 to 13 February 2015:

Council,

1. Welcomes with deep appreciation the briefing provided to Council by Ambassador Anne Namakau Mutelo, Permanent Representative to Ethiopia, the AU and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), who co-led the Mission with the Permanent Chair of the EUPSC, Ambassador Walter Stevens, on the conduct and outcome of the AUPSC/EUPSC Joint Field Mission to Mali, which took place from 11 to 13 February 2015, in accordance with the agreement reached at the AUPSC/EUPSC 7^th Annual Joint Consultative Meeting held in Brussels in May 2014, within the broad context of the Political Dialogue under the Africa-EU Joint Strategy;

2. Reiterates the importance of the joint engagement of the AU and the EU in support to the efforts of the Malian Government and its people towards the restoration of peace, security and development in the country;

3. Commends the manner in which the Joint Field Mission was conducted with the facilitation of the Government and people of Mali, the AU Mission for Mali and the Sahel (MISAHEL), and the EU Delegation in Mali, as well as the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and the Barkhane Operation.

4. Expresses gratitude to its counterpart EUPSC for its cooperation and coordination throughout the conduct of the Joint Field Mission in Mali and urges further strengthening of this collaboration, including through continuation of AUPSC/EUPSC joint field missions to conflict and post-conflict situations in Africa;

5. Stresses that dialogue and reconciliation is the way forward for all Malian stakeholders to address and overcome the challenges facing their country. In this context, Council urges all the stakeholders to support the Algiers Peace Talks;

6. Calls on all parties to respect the Ceasefire Agreement of 23 May 2014 and the Declaration of Cessation of Hostilities of 24 July 2014;

7. Emphasizes the urgent need to contribute to efforts aiming at enhancing the mandate and capacity of MINUSMA to enable it more effectively execute its mandate. Council further stresses the need for closer collaboration between the UN and the AU in addressing the acute situation in Mali;

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8. Acknowledges that the Government and people of Mali are facing major challenges in rebuilding peace, security and promoting socio-economic development in the country. In this regard, Council requests the Chairperson of the Commission to urgently dispatch a technical mission, involving experts on livestock issues, fisheries and agro-projects to Mali, in order to assess how best the AU can further assist in the area of socio-economic development, and submit recommendations to Council to this effect;

9. Calls on the Malian Government and people, as well as on international actors present in Mali, to continue with their efforts in rebuilding Mali, particularly in areas of development and strengthening of Malian defence and security forces;

10. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.