Assembly/AU/Dec.677(XXX) Page 6 region.The Assembly COMMENDS the Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the Lord's Resistance Army (RCI-LRA) for the sustained gains made in the fight against the LRA, and WELCOMES the partnership between the AU and the UN in these efforts; 15. WELCOMES the ongoing progress in Côte d’Ivoire on the path of consolidation of peace and stability in the country, and ENCOURAGES the Ivorian authorities to continue with the reform of the security sector and the deepening of the national reconciliation; 16. EXPRESSES, ONCE AGAIN, its deep concern over the persistent political impasse and the security situation in Libya, which continues to prolong the suffering of the Libyan people, undermine the country's legal institutions and pose a challenge to security and stability in the neighbouring countries and the whole region. The Assembly REAFFIRMS the imperative to engage the Libyans in an Inclusive National Reconciliation process in order to create the conditions conducive for the Libyans to determine themselves the future of their country and STRESSES THE NEED for Africa to preserve the African unity and solidarity, as well as the regional harmony in the search for a lasting solution to the Libyan crisis. The Assembly FURTHER STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE of renewing and enhancing cooperation between the African Union, the neighbouring countries and the United Nations in the resolution of the Libyan crisis, with a view to reaching a broad consensus on the objectives to be attained and the initiatives to be taken. The Assembly REQUESTS the Commission to re-launch the efforts of the Contact Group on Libya, in close cooperation with the United Nations, in order to bring together the efforts of the international community on the question and in support of the efforts of the AU High Level Committee on Libya and the AU High Representative on Libya. The Assembly EXPRESSES, ONCE AGAIN, its appreciation to H.E. Mr. Denis SASSOU NGUESSO, President of the Republic of the Congo, Chairman of the AU High Level Committee on Libya, members of the Committee, the AU High Representative on Libya, H.E. Mr. Jakaya KIKWETE, as well as to the neighbouring countries for their efforts to establish a lasting peace in Libya; 17. EXPRESSES ITS SUPPORT for the re-launching of the negotiation process between Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) with a view to reaching a durable solution consistent with letter and spirit of the relevant OAU/AU decisions and UN resolutions. The Assembly REITERATES ITS CALL on the two Member States, to engage, without pre-conditions, in direct and serious talks facilitated by the AU and the UN for the holding of a free and fair referendum for the people of Western Sahara. While the AU stands ready to operationalize, if and when necessary, its Committee of the Heads of State and Government on Western Sahara, the Assembly CALLS ON the two parties to fully cooperate with the AU High Representative for Western Sahara, former President Joaquim A. Chissano of Mozambique, and the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Horst Köhler. The Assembly REQUESTS Morocco, 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, 28- 29 January 2018, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia