PSC/MIN/COMM.1(DCCLXXXII) COMMUNIQUÉ The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), meeting in its 782 nd meeting at Ministerial level, held on 27 June 2018, adopted the following decision on the situation in Mali and the Sahel. The Council, 1. Takes note of the Information Note on the harmonisation of Initiatives and the operationalisation of the African Peace and Security Architecture in the Sahel. Council also takes note of the introductory remarks of Mr. Alie Kabba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Chairman of the Council for the month of June 2018, as well as the presentation made by the Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui and the remarks made by former President Pierre Buyoya, High Representative of the AU for Mali and the Sahel. Council also takes note of the Statements made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Niger, the country chairing the G5-Sahel, the representative of the Economic Community of West African States, the Special Representative of the United Nations for West Africa and the Sahel, the representative of the European Union (EU); 2. Recalls the relevant provisions of the Protocol on the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, particularly its Article 16, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding of 2008 between the AU and the Regional Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution, the basis of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA); 3. Recalls also its previous decisions on the Situation in Mali and in the Sahel Region, in particular the Communiqué PSC/AHG/COMM.CDLXXXIV of its 484th meeting, held on 29 January 2015, at the level of Heads of State and Government, authorising the deployment of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram, Communiqué PSC/PR/ COMM_DCLXXIX) of its 679th meeting, held on 13 April 2017, in which it endorsed the G5 Sahel Joint Force and authorised its deployment for an initial period of twelve (12) months, renewable, as well as the Communiqué PSC/ PR/COMM (DCCLIX) of its 759th meeting, held on 23 March 2018, by which it decided to extend the mandate of this Force for twelve (12) additional months. Council also recalls the Communiques PSC/PR/COMM (DCCXXXIII) and PSC/PR/COMM. DCCLXVII of its 733rd and 767th meetings, held respectively on 13 November 2017 and 28 April 2018 on Emerging Regional Initiatives within the framework of APSA. 4. Reiterates its deep concern about the continuing deterioration of the security situation in Mali and the Sahel region in general, in particular because of the persistence of terrorist attacks in northern and central Mali, Burkina Faso as well as in the border region between Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger; 5. Strongly condemns the terrorist attacks against the civilian populations, the Defence and Security Forces of the countries of the region and the international forces present in Mali, particularly those of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) ) and Operation Barkhane. Council deeply deplores the many losses in human life resulting from these despicable terrorist attacks; 6. Takes further note with deep concern that the presence of terrorist and criminal groups in the central part of Mali and at the borders between Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger is clearly