Assembly/AU/Dec.677(XXX) Page 1 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/6(XXX) The Assembly, 1. URGES the Malagasy parties to favour consensus with a view to establishing the conditions for a calm political climate that is conducive to the organisation of free, transparent and credible elections, in strict conformity with the provisions of the Malagasy Constitution. In that respect, the Assembly CONGRATULATES the Chairperson of the Commission on his efforts to support Madagascar in the consolidation of democracy and the rule of law, and ENCOURAGES his High Representative to pursue and intensify his interaction with all the stakeholders in Madagascar; 2. TAKES NOTE of the launching by the Commission, in close collaboration with the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in Khartoum, from 8 to 10 October 2017, of the consultative process towards the development of a regional strategy for peace and security in the Horn of Africa, in line with the decision Assembly/AU/Dec. 472(XX) adopted in January 2013, in which the Assembly reiterated 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; 3. WELCOMES the signing, on 21 December 2017, by the South Sudanese stakeholders of an Agreement of Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Access, and COMMENDS IGAD for leading the High Level Revitalization Forum, which presents a unique opportunity for the implementation of the Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS), in line with the Communique of the 720th meeting of the PSC, held at ministerial level, in New York, on 20 September 2017. The Assembly CONGRATULATES IGAD and the Chairperson of the Commission for their efforts that led to that achievement, towards finding a lasting solution to the conflict that continues to devastate South Sudan. The Assembly EXPRESSES DEEP CONCERN over the repeated violations of the Agreement by the parties, resulting in further deterioration of the already dire humanitarian situation caused by the ongoing conflict, and DEMANDS all warring parties to immediately put an end to all military actions and comply scrupulously with their commitments, as contained in the Agreement of 21 December 2017. The Assembly COMMENDS the AU High Representative for South Sudan, Alpha Oumar Konare, former President of Mali, and the Chair of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission [JMEC], Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana, for their collective efforts towards implementation of the ARCSS. The Assembly WELCOMES efforts by Presidents Yoweri K. Museveni of Uganda and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt that led to the Cairo Declaration and the Entebbe Agreement aimed at reuniting the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM). Furthermore, the Assembly 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, 28- 29 January 2018, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia