Brussels, 23 March 2012/ ACP: The ACP Group expresses deep concern about the coup d’état in Mali which is a major setback for constitutional democratic governance in that country and in Africa. The action of the renegade troops is intolerable especially as it comes barely a month before scheduled Presidential Elections in Mali in which Malian President Amadou Toumani TOURE is not a candidate. It also now creates disunity and undermines the esprit de corps within the military at a time it should be united in confronting the rebellion in the North of the country.

The ACP Group joins the AU, the ECOWAS and the International Community in calling for the immediate restoration of constitutional rule in Mali. / END

For more information contact Press Attachee, Josephine Latu-Sanft +32 2 7430617, latu@acp.int

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