Communiqué of the 1162nd Meeting of the Peace and Security Council held on 20 July 2023, on Updated Briefing on the Situation in the Sahel.

Abstract

Council noted with deep concern of the persistent and deteriorating security crisis in the Sahel region as well as delays in the transition processes. Council urged the transitional authorities in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali to fully comply with the agreed transition timelines and reiterated the importance of comprehensive, multi-dimensional, whole of society and whole of government approaches in order to organize free, transparent and credible elections, leading to the restoration of constitutional order. While expressing deep concern over the potential negative impact of the withdrawal of MINUSMA, Council requested the AU Commission to (i) 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 and (ii) together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to expedite the operationalization of the recently launched Africa Facility to Support Inclusive in Transitions (AFSIT), (iii) 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 and, (iv) provide the Council with regular updates on the situation in the Sahel region. Lastly, Council appealed to the international community, humanitarian aid agencies, as well as Member States to support humanitarian efforts in favour of the countries of the Sahel region.