PSC Communique on the situation between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan Ref:2- PSC/AHG/COMM.2(CCCXXVII)

AFRICAN UNION

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, P.O. Box: 3243 Tel.: (251-11) 5513 822 Fax: (251-11) 5519 321

Email: situationroom@africa-union.org

PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL 327™ MEETING AT THE LEVEL OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA 14 JULY 2012

PSC/AHG/C0MM.2(CCCXXVII)

COMMUNIQUE

COMMUNIQUE

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 327^th meeting held on 14 July 2012, adopted the following decision on the situation between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan:

Council,

1. Takes note of the Report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the Status of Implementation of the Peace and Security Council communique PSC/MIN/COMM/ 3.(CCCXIX)of 24 April 2012 on the situation between Sudan and South Sudan[PSC/AHG/ 4(CCCXXVII)], and the briefing given by former President Thabo Mbeki, in his capacity as theChairperson of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP). Council also takes note of the statements made by the Presidents of the Republic of Sudan, H.E. Omar Hassan Al Bashir, and of the Republic of South Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, as well as of the statements made by Ethiopia, in its capacity as the Chair of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the United Nations, and other Member States;

2. Reiterates the terms of its communique PSC/MIN/COMM/3.(CCCXIX), which articulated a Roadmap on the situation between Sudan and South Sudan, as well as the communique adopted at the 4^th meeting of the Sudan-South Sudan Consultative Forum, held in Addis Ababa on 22 June 2012,that was convened jointly by the AU and the United Nations. Council welcomes the adoption by the United Nations Security Council,on 2 May 2012, of resolution 2046(2012), which endorsed the Roadmap, as well as the support extended to the AU-led efforts by other bilateral and multilateral partners.Council reaffirms that the Parties must unconditionally implementall aspects of the Roadmap, and stresses the importance of continued unity of views and action among the members of the international community, for the timely and successful implementation of the Roadmap;

3. Takes noteof the significant reduction in fighting along the border between Sudan and South Sudan since the adoption of the Roadmap, as well as the progress made by the Parties on a definition of cessation of hostilities, the exchange of the names of their monitors to the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM), andthe adoption of the Terms of Reference of the ad-hoc Committee and appointment of its members;

4. Welcomes the acceptance by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan of the administrative and security map for the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ) submitted by the AUHIP to the Parties, in November 2011. Council urges the Government of Sudan to accept this map, as called for in the Roadmap, to enable the full operationalization of all the security arrangements referred to in paragraph 3 above;

5. Expresses satisfaction at the withdrawal by both countries of unauthorized armed forces from Abyei, as required by the Roadmap. Council notes the continued presence of oil police from Sudan in the Diffra area, and calls on the Parties to agree on the establishment of the Abyei Police Service at the next meeting of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC), as well asto finalize the establishment of the Intergovernmental Task Force for

Humanitarian Access, to facilitate assistance for the returnees. Council also urges the Parties to speed up the search for a solution to the impasse on the Abyei Area Administration and the Abyei Executive Council. Council commends the AJOC and the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) for their work in stabilizing the security situation in Abyei;

6. Welcomes the recent adoption by the Parties of a "new spirit" of a strategic partnership, as the basis for a comprehensive resolution of all outstanding issues between the two countries, in particular the commitment to never again resort to force to resolve their differences, to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country, and to build mutually beneficial relations. In this regard, Council notes with satisfaction the public affirmation by Presidents Omar Hassan al Bashir and SalvaKiirMayarditof their commitment to this new spirit;

7. Notes with satisfaction the resumption of talks in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, on 12 July 2012, and urges the Parties to use this opportunity to conclude agreements on all outstanding issues, including security, oil and related payments, borders, the status of nationals of the other State and the final status of Abyei. Council reiterates its demand that the negotiations be completed by 2August 2012, as provided for in the Roadmap and UN Security Council resolution 2046 (2012). Council stresses the need for the Parties, in the meantime, immediately to commence the demarcation of the agreed areas of the boundary, as well asto establish the High-Level Committee on the Status of Nationals of the Other State and Related Matters,in order to address all issues under its purview;

8. Calls on the two countriesto speedily conclude agreements that would allow for the reopening of the border,facilitate the resumption of trade and support the livelihoods of border communities;

9. Welcomes the acceptance, by the Government of Sudan, of the Joint Proposal for Access to Provide and Deliver Humanitarian Assistance to War-ojfected Civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States, bythe African Union, the League of Arab States and the United Nations,which had already been accepted by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).Council reiteratesits firm belief that it is the responsibility of the relevant authorities, and in particular the Government of Sudan, to ensure that all affected areas haveunfetteredaccess to humanitarian assistance. Council stresses the needto ensurethat humanitarian assistance is forthcoming as a matter of utmost urgency, delivered by competent, impartial, agencies, under the guidance and oversight of the three organizations. In this regard, Council urges the Government of Sudan and the SPLM-N to cooperate with the relevant United Nations agencies, in particular the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Council requests the Commission immediately to deploy monitors to the affected areas, to assist the Parties to maintain the neutrality and integrity of humanitarian assistance, consistent with respect for the sovereignty of the Republic of Sudan;

10. Reiterates, once again, its firm conviction that there is no military solution to the conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, and that, therefore, the Parties must return to negotiations on the basis of the 28 June 2011 Framework Agreement on Political

Partnership between the NCP and SPLM-N and Political and Security Arrangements in Blue Nile and South Kordofan States. In this regard. Council welcomes the acceptance by both Parties of the need for the resumption of negotiations, and urges them to commence these negotiations immediately under the facilitation of the AUHIP and the Chair of IGAD;

11. Looks forward to the report to be submitted by the AUHIP, in accordance with paragraph 14 of communique PSC/MIN/C0MM/3.(CCCXIX);

12. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.