The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 315th meeting, held in Addis Ababa  on  23 March 2012, adopted the following  decision  on  the  situation  in  the Republic of Mali:

Council,
1. Takes note of the briefing by the Chairperson of the Commission, as well as the statements by the representatives of the Republic of Mali and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on the current developments in Mali;

2. Reaffirms the relevant AU instruments, in particular the provisions of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which reject any unconstitutional change of government, including seizure of power by force;

3. Recalls its 314th meeting held in Bamako, Mali, on 20 March 2012, and reaffirms its communiquéPSC/MIN/Comm.(CCCXIV) on the situation in Mali, in particular the need to bring to a speedy end the attacks by rebel movements in the north of the country, to restore the authority of the Malian state throughout its territory and to find a lasting solution to all legitimate claims, based on full respect forthe national unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Mali;

4. Deplores the loss of life and strongly condemns the looting and abuses committed by soldiers in Bamako and elsewherein Mali, and calls for an immediate end to these acts. Council demands the release of all political prisoners detained since the coup d’Etat and will hold accountable all persons responsible for the breakdown of security and public order in Mali;

5. Expresses concern that the Foreign Ministers of Kenya and Zimbabwe, who were in Bamako for a ministerial meeting of the Peace and Security Council dedicated to the situation in the Sahel region, together with other officials, remain trapped in the Malian capital. Council calls onthe perpetrators of the coup d’Etatin Mali to ensure their safety, facilitate their immediate evacuation and allow all other nationals who wish to leave Mali to do so immediately;

6. Endorses the communiqués on the situation in Mali issued by the Chairperson of the Commission on 21 and 22 March 2012, as well as the communiquéof the President of ECOWAS Commission issued on 22 March 2012;

7. Welcomes the statements made by Member States condemning the coup d'Etat in Mali and requesting the immediate restoration of constitutional order. Council further welcomes the positions expressed by AU bilateral and multilateral partners, including the United Nations Security Council, through thestatement to the press made by its President on 22 March 2012, the European Union (EU), the United States and other AU partners, condemning the coup d’Etat in Mali and calling for the restoration of constitutional order;

8. Strongly condemns the breakdown of constitutional order in Mali, following the coup d’Etatof 22 March 2012 and the seizure of power by a section of the Malian army. Council stresses that this coup d’Etat, coming just before the presidential election,scheduled for29 April 2012, constitutes a serious setback for Mali and for the democratic processes taking place on the continent;

9. Decides, pursuant to the relevant AU instruments, to suspend, with immediate effect, the participation of Mali in allthe activities of the African Union until the effective restoration of constitutional order ;

10. Calls upon the military to immediately return to the barracks and raise their grievances through democratic channels and,in this regard, underlines the need forimmediate restoration of constitutional order. Council requests the Chairperson of the Commission, in close collaboration with ECOWAS and the UN, to take all necessary measures to engage with relevant Malian stakeholders to accelerate the attainmentof the objective of restoringconstitutional order, in accordance with the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. Council urges the Malian stakeholders to take all necessary actions to ensure that the presidential election take place as scheduled, on 29 April 2012;

11. Expressesits appreciation and strong support for the effortsmade by the Chairperson of the Union, President Thomas YayiBoni of Benin, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d'Ivoire, and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Desire K. Ouedraogo, tofacilitate the restoration of constitutional order and normalcy in Mali. Council looks forward to the outcomes of the mission that the ECOWAS, AU and the United Nations have dispatched to Mali. Council calls uponconcerned parties in Mali to receive the Mission and extend their fullest cooperation;

12. Requests the Chairperson of the Commission, in consultation with ECOWAS and the UN, to take all necessary steps for the Follow?up and Support Group put in place in conformity with paragraph 7 of communiqué PSC/MIN/Comm.(CCCXIV),to mobilize and coordinate the support of the international community at large to the efforts of the AU and ECOWAS aimed at ensuring the restoration of constitutional order in Mali;

13. Decides to remain seized of the situation.

COMMENTS