The African Union welcomes the establishment of the Reconciliation and Dialogue Commission in Mali

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, April 15, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. NkosazanaDlamini-Zuma, is closely following the evolution of the political and security situation in Mali. In this regard, she expresses satisfaction at the appointment, by presidential decree, on 29 March 2013, of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman and, on10 April 2013, of the 30 members of the Reconciliation and Dialogue Commission. The AU is convinced that this appointment constitutes a significant step towards the operationalization of the Commission and the re-launching of the necessary dialogue and reconciliation process among the Malian communities, as well as towards the conclusion of restoration of the constitutional order.

The Chairperson of the Commission encourages the Malian authorities to avail the Commission with all the necessary ressources, and appeals to all the Malians to give it the required support, so as to enable it successfullycarry out its mission in the supreme interest of the country.

The Chairperson of the Commission, whose Representative for Mali and the Sahel, former President Pierre Buyoya, has already held talks with the Chairman of the Reconciliation and Dialogue Commission, reaffirms the AU's commitment to the political process in Mali and reiterates its readiness, particularly throughthe African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA), to support this process in Mali, in order to contribute to the successful resolution of the multidimensional crisis facing Mali.