PSC/PR/COMM.(CCCXVI) Page 1 COMMUNIQUÉ The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 316th meeting held on 3 April 2012, adopted the following decision on the situation in the Republic of Mali: Council, 1. Takes note of the briefing provided by the Commissioner for Peace and Security, and the statement made by the representative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the evolving situation in Mali; 2. Recalls its Communiqués PSC/MIN/Comm.(CCCXIV) and PSC/PR/COMM(CCCXV) adopted at its 314th and 315th meetings held on 20 and 23 March 2012, respectively; 3. Reaffirms the unwavering commitment of the AU and all its Member States to the national unity and territorial integrity of the Republic of Mali, and the determination of Africa to spare no effort to ensure their preservation. Council also reaffirms the relevant AU instruments, particularly the Algiers Decision and the Lomé Declaration, and the provisions of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which reject any unconstitutional change of Government, including seizure of power by force; 4. Recalls the strong condemnation by the AU of the coup d'état which took place in Mali on 22 March 2012, as well as the need to restore constitutional order and ensure the resumption of the normal functioning of the republican institutions. Council notes that this coup d'état, which constitutes a serious setback for Mali and Africa, has severely weakened Mali and undermined its national cohesion at a time when the country is facing rebellion by armed groups in the northern part of its national territory; 5. Reiterates AU’s support to the efforts of ECOWAS for the preservation and respect of the national unity and territorial integrity of Mali, as well as the return to constitutional order in the country, in pursuance of the communiqué issued at the end of the 40th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, held in Abuja on 16 and 17 February 2012, the Extraordinary Summit held in Abidjan on 27 March 2012, the meeting of the delegation of the six Heads of State of ECOWAS held in Abidjan on 29 March 2012, and the Extraordinary Session held in Dakar on 2 April 2012; 6. Rejects all delaying tactics of the perpetrators of the coup d'état, and demands the restoration, without further delay, of constitutional order and the resumption of the normal functioning of the republican institutions on the basis of the relevant provisions of the Malian Constitution; 7. Decides, in view of the refusal of the military junta to respond immediately and in good faith to the requests of the AU and ECOWAS, to impose, with immediate effect, individual measures, including travel ban and asset freeze, against the leader and members of the junta, as well as against all individuals and entities contributing, in one way or another, to the maintenance of the unconstitutional status quo and�� impeding AU and