PSC/PR/COMM. (CDXLIX) Page 1 COMMUNIQUÉ The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 449th meeting held on 11 August 2014, adopted the following decision on the situation in Mali and in the Sahel region: Council, 1. Takes note of the report of the Chairperson of the Commission on Mali and the Sahel and the activities of the AU Mission for Mali and the Sahel [PSC/PR/2. (CDXLIX)], as well as of the briefings made by the AU High Representative for Mali and the Sahel, Pierre Buyoya. Council also takes note of the statements made by the representatives of Mali, Ghana, in its capacity as Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as well as by members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council (Chad, France, Nigeria, Rwanda, United Kingdom and the United States of America), the UN Secretariat and the European Union (EU); 2. Recalls its previous communiqués and press statements on the situation in Mali, as well as paragraph 17 of decision Assembly/AU/Dec.536(XXIII) on the report of the Peace and Security Council on its Activities and the State of Peace and Security in Africa, adopted by the 23rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on 26 and 27 June 2014; 3. Reaffirms its commitment to the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Mali; 4. Welcomes the efforts that led to the completion of the restoration of constitutional order in Mali, following the presidential and legislative elections held during the second half of 2013. Council reiterates AU’s support to the efforts to consolidate the progress recorded in the stabilization of Mali, the restoration of State authority over the entire territory of Mali and the consolidation of peace in the country; 5. Reiterates AU’s appreciation to the countries of the region, including Algeria and Burkina Faso, as well as to the international partners, for their efforts towards the promotion of sustainable peace, security and stability in Mali. In this regard, Council, once again, expresses AU’s appreciation to President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania, Chairperson of the AU, for having facilitated the conclusion, on 23 May 2014, after the unfortunate incidents that occurred in Kidal, in the north of the country, of a Ceasefire Agreement between the Government of Mali and the armed movements. Council welcomes the commitment of the Malian Government to the early resolution of the crisis in the north of Mali and to national reconciliation in the context of the follow-up to the Ouagadougou Preliminary Agreement of 18 June 2013, as well as the signature, by the armed movements, on 9 and 14 June 2014, respectively, of the Algiers Declaration and Preliminary Platform; 6. Welcomes the successful conclusion of the first phase of the Inclusive inter-Malian Talks provided for by the Ouagadougou Agreement, with the signature, on 24 July 2014, in Algiers, by all those involved in the negotiation process, of a Consensual Roadmap and a Declaration of Cessation of Hostilities, under the auspices of the Algerian Mediation, in coordination with the AU, the UN, the ECOWAS Mediation, the EU and the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and with the support of the countries of the region (Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger and Chad). Council urges the Malian Parties to seize the opportunity provided by this significant progress to find a