DECISION ON THE REPORT OF THE PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL ON ITS
ACTIVITIES AND THE STATE OF PEACE AND SECURITY IN AFRICA
Doc. Assembly/AU/3(XX)
The Assembly,
TAKES NOTE of the Report of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) on its activities and the state of peace and security in Africa;
COMMENDS the PSC, the Commission and the Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution for their commitment and efforts;
NOTES the recent advances in the process of ending the crisis in Madagascar, notably the announcement by Mr. Marc Ravalomanana and Mr. Rajoelina Andre that they will abstain from the next presidential election. The Assembly ENCOURAGES the continuation of on-going efforts for the full implementation of the Roadmap for ending the crisis in Madagascar, and REQUESTS the Commission to convene an early meeting of the International Contact Group on Madagascar (ICG -M) and the Peace and Security Council (PSC) to meet immediately thereafter to assess the situation and take appropriate measures;
WELCOMES the remarkable progress in Somalia, both in terms of security, with the continuous expansion of areas under the control of Somali forces and AMISOM, and on the political level, with the end of the Transition and the election of a new President of the Republic. The Assembly APPEALS to Member States and international partners to provide the necessary assistance for consolidating the gains, and strengthening the capacity of the Somali State, especially in terms of security. The Assembly WELCOMES the review of AMISOM conducted by the Commission between December 2012 and January 2013, and AWAITS WITH INTEREST the implementation of the recommendations contained therein, as have been reviewed and approved by the PSC;
EXPRESSES CONCERN at the continued impasse in the peace process between Eritrea and Ethiopia and REAFFIRMS the African Union’s appeal for an intensification of efforts by Africa to help the two countries overcome the current difficulties, normalize relations and lay the foundations for sustainable peace and security in Africa. The Assembly ALSO REITERATES the urgent need for an effective and scrupulous implementation of the 6 June 2010 Agreement between Djibouti and Eritrea and REQUESTS the Peace and Security Council (PSC) to actively follow up the matter and report thereon;
REITERATES ITS SUPPORT for a regional and holistic approach to resolving challenges to peace, security and stability in the Horn of Africa, in support of IGAD; REQUESTS the Commission, in consultation with countries of the region, IGAD, the European Union, the United Nations and other partners, to take the necessary steps with a view to launching this process, and to submit a report to the PSC thereon before the next ordinary session of the Assembly;
ENCOURAGES the Parties to the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DHRD), namely the Government of Sudan and the Movement for Freedom and Justice (LJM), to intensify their efforts towards the implementation of the Agreement, and STRESSES THE NEED for renewed efforts to make the peace process more inclusive. The Assembly APPEALS to the international community to provide financial and other assistance required in order to consolidate the progress made in Darfur. The Assembly EXPRESSES CONCERN over the deterioration of the security situation on the ground, CALLS ON all actors concerned to exercise utmost restraint and AFFIRMS ITS SUPPORT to the efforts of the AU/UN Hybrid Operation (UNAMID). The Assembly WELCOMES the appointment of Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas as new Joint Special Representative for UNAMID;
REITERATES ITS FULL SUPPORT for the Roadmap adopted by the PSC on 24 April 2012 on the situation between Sudan and South Sudan, WELCOMES the signing of the 27 September 2012 Agreements between the two countries, as well as the outcomes of the Summit between Presidents Omar Hassan Al Bashir and Salva Kiir Mayardit held in Addis Ababa on 4 and 5 January 2013, and STRESSES the need and the obligation of both countries to scrupulously implement the commitments made. The Assembly COMMENDS the AU High- Level Implementation Panel and its members, former Presidents Thabo Mbeki, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Pierre Buyoya, for their commitment and perseverance, and Ethiopia, chair of IGAD, for its active role in promoting peace within and between the two countries. The Assembly ENCOURAGES THEM to continue their efforts;
REITERATES ITS STRONG CONDEMNATION of the armed groups and all other negative forces operating in the eastern part of DRC and its absolute rejection of the use of armed rebellion to assert political claims. The Assembly GIVES FULL SUPPORT to the efforts of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR),SADC and those of the Congolese Government to promptly and fully restore its authority over its entire territory. The Assembly REQUESTS the Commission to continue efforts for the rapid deployment of the International Neutral Force (INF), on the basis of a linkage with MONUSCO, whose mandate should be revised to be more coercive, and of the strengthening of the Extended Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM), which will operate under the authority of the African Union (AU) and supervision of the Peace and Security Council (PSC);
EXPRESSES SATISFACTION at the Agreements concluded in Libreville under the auspices of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), between the Central African parties, as well as the first measures taken for its implementation, including the appointment of a Prime Minister from the ranks of the opposition; UNDERSCORES the urgent need for the scrupulous respect of the Agreements, and REQUESTS the international Community to support the process of ending the crisis and the efforts of ECCA;
EXPRESSES SATISFACTION at the progress made in the implementation of the regional cooperation Initiative against the Lord’s Resistance Army (RCI-LRA) and ENCOURAGES the countries concerned and the Commission to persevere in their efforts;
ENDORSES the various communiques on the situation in Mali adopted by the PSC, including the Communique of its 352nd meeting held on 25 January 2013. The Assembly WELCOMES the assistance given by the AU partners, particularly France, in order to block the offensive launched by the terrorist and criminal groups on 10 January 2013, efforts by the AU and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the rapid deployment of the international support Mission to Mali under African command (MISMA), as well as contributions in troops made by many African countries in the region and beyond. The Assembly URGENTLY REQUESTS all Member States to generously contribute to the mobilization of the necessary support for MISMA and the Defence and Security forces of Mali (FDSM), particularly on the occasion of the Donor’s Conference scheduled to take place on 29 January 2013. The Assembly ALSO CALLS ON the AU partners to contribute to the success of the Donor's Conference, and INVITES the United Nations to promptly implement the request of the AU and ECOWAS for the execution of a module of financial support by contributions to be collected by the United Nations and meanwhile, authorize the immediate establishment of transitional arrangements to enable the diligent deployment of MISMA and its effective operation. The Assembly REAFFIRMS ITS SUPPORT to the transitional authorities and WARNS the members of the former junta and the other players concerned against any hindrance in the smooth conduct of the transition and efforts designed to restore the authority of the Malian state on its whole territory. The Assembly EXPRESSES SATISFACTION at the appointment of the former President Pierre Buyoya, as AU High Representative for Mali and the Sahel;
EXPRESSES SATISFACTION at the strides recorded in the conduct of the Transition in Guinea-Bissau. The Assembly underscores the need for unity of action between the members of the international community and in that regard, WELCOMES the smooth running of the joint Mission AU/ECOWAS/CPLP/EU/UN in Bissau, from 16 to 21 December 2012, and REQUESTS the PSC and the Commission to monitor it;
NOTES WITH SATISFACTION the progress made in the transition process in North Africa and ENCOURAGES all the players concerned to do everything possible to meet the expectations generated by the popular revolutions which took place in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya;
NOTES WITH SATISFACTION the advances that continue to be recorded in the consolidation of peace in the Comoros, in Cote d'Ivoire and in Liberia, and URGES Member States and international partners to provide all necessary support to the processes under way in these countries;
STRESSES the need to intensify efforts for reconstruction and post-conflict development to consolidate peace where it has not been done. In that regard, the Assembly REQUESTS the Commission to fully operationalize the African Solidarity Initiative (ASI);
REITERATES ITS SERIOUS CONCERN over the routine use of armed rebellion to assert political claims, STRESSES the threat which this trend poses to the viability of democratic processes on the continent, as well as to peace, security and stability in Africa and STRONGLY CONDEMNS this practice as well as any support given to armed rebellions. The Assembly REITERATES ITS REQUEST to the Commission to submit concrete recommendations on ways and means to deal with the scourge of armed rebellion and that of secession claims;
WELCOMES the convening in Pretoria, from 21 to 22 November 2012, of a workshop on the implementation of resolution 1540 in Africa, on the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-State actors, STRESSES in this respect the relevance of AU non-proliferation and counter-terrorism instruments, and REQUESTS the Commission to take the necessary steps, in collaboration with the 1540 Committee and all other stakeholders, to further promote and enhance the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) in Africa;
NOTES WITH SATISFACTION the convening of the 2nd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), as well as of the 2nd Conference of States Parties to the Treaty, in Addis Ababa, on 26 July 2012 and from 12 to 13 November 2012, respectively. The Assembly ENCOURAGES the Commission and the Republic of South Africa to finalize, as soon as possible, their consultations on the establishment of the AFCONE headquarters in Pretoria, and other related aspects;
NOTES WITH SATISFACTION the finalization by the Commission the “African Union Strategy on the Control of Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons”, in the context of decision Assembly/AU/Dec.369(XVII) of July 2011, and ENCOURAGES Member States to make use of the Strategy and its Action Plan. The Assembly ALSO NOTES WITH SATISFACTION the elaboration of an Africa Common Position on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), as requested by Assembly decision
Assembly/AU/Dec.369(XVII), and ENCOURAGES Member States to make use of the Common Position to further Africa’s concerns and interests during the Final UN Conference on the ATT will be held in New York in March 2013;
COMMENDS the Commission for having completed the development of the draft AU Policy Framework on Security Sector Reform (SSR), in fulfilment of Assembly Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.177(X) of January 2008, URGES Member States to take advantage of the Policy, and ENCOURAGES the Commission to avail the required assistance to Member States in this respect.