DECISION ON THE REPORT OF THE FIFTH ORDINARY SESSION OF
THE SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE,
SECURITY AND SAFETY
Doc. EX.CL/698(XX)
The Executive Council,
1. TAKES NOTE of the Report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the Fifth Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Defence, Security and Safety (STCDSS) which was preceded by the Eighth Meeting of Chiefs of Defence Staff and Heads of Security and Safety Services held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 26 October 2011 and 25 October 2011, respectively;
2. ENDORSES the Declaration adopted by the STCDSS, including:
i) Roadmap III for the operationalization of the African Standby Force (ASF) and the steps taken towards the establishment of an ASF Continental Logistics Base in Douala, Cameroon;
ii) the implementation of the AMANI AFRICA II Exercise Cycle activities;
iii) the establishment of the Maritime Information and Coordination Cell (MI2C);
iv) the financing of the ASF and the activities required for its full operationalization.
3. ALSO TAKES NOTE of the proposal made by the Commission to establish a strategic defense office and REQUESTS the Commission to deepen its reflection in light of the observations made with the understanding that this should in no way hamper the enhancement of the Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) within the Peace and Security Department of the Commission through the implementation of the four (4) pillar structure and to expedite the appointment of the Chief of Staff for the PSOD;
4. REQUESTS the Commission to expedite consultations with respect to the clarification of the roles of the Continental Logistic Base and the Regional Logistics Bases;
5. ALSO REQUESTS the Commission to take necessary measures for the urgent deployment of troops already contributed by Member States to the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM);
6. FURTHER REQUESTS the Commission to take all the necessary measures to ensure the effective and prompt implementation of all aspects of this Decision and report on regular basis to the Executive Council.