Assembly/AU/6(XV) Page 13 proposals, the Rajoelina Movement provided an answer that was deemed unsatisfactory. It was against this background that the PSC decided, on 17 March 2010, that the sanctions imposed on 19 February 2010 against members of the Rajoelina Movement and other individuals or bodies impeding the return of constitutional order should enter into force. 60. As part of the resumed efforts at exiting from the crisis and promoting the restoration of constitutional order, President Chissano, with the support of South Africa and France, and in consultation with SADC and the AU, convened a meeting of the leaders of the Malagasy political movements in Pretoria, from 28 April to 1 May 2010. Unfortunately, the meeting did not yield the expected outcomes. The Mediator is presently continuing with his efforts to arrive at an agreement on a consensual and inclusive transition in Madagascar. However, this initiative has continued to come up against the will of the Rajoelina Regime to proceed with the legislative elections in disregard of the spirit and letter of the Maputo and Addis Ababa Agreements. At the time of finalizing this report, preparations were underway to hold a PSC meeting in order to consider the situation in Madagascar on the basis of the report to be presented by the SADC Mediator. 61. The situation in Madagascar constitutes a real challenge for Africa and our Organization. No effort should be spared to achieve a return to constitutional order. Attainment of the set objectives calls for the commitment of all Member States and the unwavering support of our international partners, including the United Nations Security Council, which should throw its full weight behind African efforts. 62. In Niger, the major element of the review period was the coup d’état which occurred on 18 February 2010, against a backdrop characterized by a political stalemate arising from the decision of President Mamadou Tandja to revise the country’s constitution, in violation of the provisions of the country’s basic law and its commitments to ECOWAS. The mediation efforts initiated by ECOWAS with the support of AU, designed to overcome the stalemate were unsuccessful given that the former Government of Niger rejected the draft peace agreement presented by the ECOWAS Mediator. It is worth emphasizing that at the meeting held in Abuja on 29 October 2009, the PSC expressed its full support for ECOWAS initiatives and decisions on Niger. In accordance with relevant AU instruments, the Chairperson of the Commission and the PSC condemned this seizure of power by force, calling for a speedy restoration of constitutional order and underscoring the availability of the AU to facilitate such a process, working closely with ECOWAS. In addition, the PSC decided to suspend Niger from participating in the activities of the AU until restoration of constitutional order. In its Communiqué, the PSC emphasized the importance and relevance of the Decision of the 14th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union on the Prevention of Unconstitutional Changes of Government, which reposes on zero tolerance not only of coups d’état but also of violation of democratic standards, the persistence and recurrence of which could lead to unconstitutional changes of government. 63. Immediately after the coup, a joint AU/ECOWAS/United Nations mission proceeded to Niamey to meet with the new authorities in a bid to obtain from them a firm commitment to speedy return to constitutional legality. In addition, the Special