PSC/AHG/COMM.3(CDLXXXIV) Page 1 COMMUNIQUÉ The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 484th meeting held on 29 January 2015, at the level of Heads of State and Government, adopted the following decision on the Ebola virus outbreak in the affected countries in West Africa: Council, 1. Takes note of the briefing provided by the Commission on the Ebola outbreak in the affected countries in West Africa and on the national and international efforts to address this situation. Council also takes note of the statements made by the representatives of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, as well as by the representative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); 2. Recalls its earlier communiqués and press statements on the Ebola outbreak, in particular communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.(CDL) adopted at its 450th meeting held on 19 August 2014, which authorized the deployment of an AU-led military, civilian and humanitarian mission, as well as decision Ext/EX.CL/Dec.1(XVI) on the same issue, adopted by the 16th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council held in Addis Ababa on 8 September 2014; 3. Commends the Chairperson of the Commission for her outstanding commitment in the fight against Ebola and the efforts being deployed in response to the epidemic in West Africa, including the deployment of the AU Support Mission for the Fight Against the epidemic in West Africa (ASEOWA), and the visit she undertook, together with the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), to the countries most affected by the epidemic, as well as for the steps she has taken to mobilize the African private sector and people to contribute to the ongoing efforts; 4. Further commends the countries of the region, under the auspices of ECOWAS, the other AU Member States, as well as the rest of the international community, including the UN, the European Union (EU), the AfDB and other multilateral and bilateral partners for their sustained efforts and the steps taken to contain and eliminate the Ebola outbreak. Council calls on all AU Member States and other members of the international community, which have not yet done so to join the fight against Ebola and extend the necessary support to ASEOWA and the countries of the region; 5. Expresses deep appreciation to the African private sector for responding generously to the appeal made by the Chairperson of the Commission and contributing to the Solidarity Fund against Ebola established by the AU, with the support of the AfDB, as well as to the African mobile telephone companies, which launched a continent-wide SMS campaign to mobilize additional resources from African citizens. Council further expresses deep appreciation to the African citizens who are participating in this campaign. Council requests the Chairperson of the Commission, building on this successful campaign, to take the necessary steps to facilitate greater involvement and support of the African private sector and ordinary Africa citizens to the funding of the AU peace and security agenda;