PSC/MIN/Comm.4(CLXIII) Page 1 COMMUNIQUE OF THE 163rd MEETING OF THE PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 163rd meeting held at ministerial level, on 22 December 2008, adopted the following decision on the situation in Somalia: Council: 1. Takes note of the Report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the situation in Somalia [PSC/MIN/ 4(CLXIII)], as well as the statements made by the representatives of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, IGAD (Chair and Executive Secretariat) and the United Nations; 2. Recalls all its previous decisions and press statements on the situation in Somalia; 3. Reiterates its commitment to the respect of the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Somalia; 4. Notes with concern that Somalia is, once again, at a crossroad, with the risks that recent developments could lead to a total collapse of all the efforts so far deployed to promote peace, security, stability and reconciliation, and calls on all concerned to show leadership and rise to the daunting challenges facing the country; 5. Welcomes the progress made in the implementation of the Djibouti Agreement of 19 August 2008, including the Agreement of 26 October 2008 on the Modalities for the Cessation of Hostilities between the TFG and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) and the Joint Declaration on the Government of National Unity and the Expanded Parliament issued by the TFG and the ARS on 26 October 2008 and subsequently endorsed by the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP), as well as the establishment of the Benadir Administration, the work being accomplished by the High-level Committee and the Joint Security Committee established in pursuance of the Djibouti Agreement, and the steps taken by the ARS to relocate its leadership to Somalia; 6. Encourages the TFG and the ARS to intensify their efforts towards the implementation of the Agreements they have reached and urges, once again, all parties that have not yet done so to join the peace process; 7. Reiterates its serious concern at the divisions within the TFG, in particular, and in the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) in general, which constitute an obstacle to the promotion of an all-inclusive political process and the achievement of national reconciliation. Council stresses that no one should be allowed, both within and outside Somalia, to stand in the way of the ongoing efforts aimed at promoting reconciliation, peace and stability in Somalia; 8. Welcomes the communiqué adopted by the 31st Extraordinary Session of the IGAD Council of Ministers held in Addis Ababa on 21st December 2008. In particular, Council affirms its full support to Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein Adde and his new cabinet, which was endorsed by the TFP. Council condemns the attempt by