Assembly/AU/Dec.536(XXIII) Page 6 facilitated the conclusion, on 23 May 2014, of a Ceasefire Agreement between the Government of Mali and the armed movements after the regrettable incidents that took place in Kidal, in the north of the country. The Assembly WELCOMES the nomination by President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of a High Representative to the Inclusive Talks provided for in the 18 June 2013 Ouagadougou Agreement, PAYS TRIBUTE to the neighbouring countries, notably Algeria and Burkina Faso, as well as to the regional and international partners, for the efforts they are deploying to facilitate these Talks and, in this regard, EXPRESSES SATISFACTION at the signing, by the armed movements, of the Algiers Declaration and Preliminary Platform, in Algiers on 9 and 14 June 2014, respectively. The Assembly ENCOURAGES all Malian stakeholders concerned to work towards the speedy convening of the Inclusive Talks. The Assembly CONDEMNS the attacks perpetrated by the terrorist and armed groups in northern Mali, and DEMANDS the immediate withdrawal of these groups from the public buildings and areas they are occupying and their return to the positions they held prior to 17 May 2014; 18. REAFFIRMS the need for sustained efforts to deal in a holistic, collective and coordinated manner with the multidimensional challenges facing the Sahel region. The Assembly UNDERSCORES the importance of the role of the Ministerial Platform set up in November 2013 and tasked to coordinate international efforts on the Sahel, and WELCOMES the elaboration by the AU of a Strategy for the Sahel and ENCOURAGES the AU Mission for Mali and the Sahel (MISAHEL) to pursue and intensify its efforts in support of the countries of the region. The Assembly REAFFIRMS ITS SUPPORT for the Nouakchott Process on the Enhancement of Security Cooperation and the Operationalization of APSA in the Sahelo-Saharan region; 19. REITERATES its earlier decisions on the situation in Western Sahara and the need for renewed efforts to facilitate an early resolution of the conflict which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, as provided for in the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council. The Assembly WELCOMES the consultations being undertaken by former President Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, as AU Special Envoy, with the permanent members of the Security Council and Spain, as the former administrative power, as well as with the UN Secretariat, as a follow-up to the relevant AU decisions and in support of the UN efforts, and LOOKS FORWARD to the submission, by the Commission, in due course, of a report on the situation; 20. WELCOMES the success of the democratic transition process in Tunisia, following the adoption of the new constitution and the electoral law, as well as the establishment of the High Independent Organ for Elections, opening up encouraging prospects regarding the organization of the forthcoming elections, and PAYS TRIBUTE to the role played by the PSC, through the Panel of the Wise, in the successful conclusion of the process; 21. EXPRESSES CONCERN about the prevailing situation in Libya and its impact on the conduct of the on-going transition and the cohesion of the country, as well as