PSC/PR/COMM.(CDXL) Page 1 COMMUNIQUÉ The Peace and Security Council of the African Union, at its 440 th meeting held in Addis Ababa, on 12 June 2014, adopted the following decision on the situation in South Sudan: Council: 1. Takes note of the statement made by the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security and the briefing provided by Ambassador Seyoum Mesfin, the Chair of the Team of Special Envoys of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Council also takes note of the statement made by the representative of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan, as well as by those of the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU)and Nigeria and Rwanda in their capacity as African members of the UN Security Council, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, in their capacity as permanent members of the Security Council; 2. Recalls its earlier communiqués and press statements on the situation in South Sudan; 3. Commends the IGAD Chairperson, Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn, and the other leaders of the region for their continued commitment and determination in finding a lasting solution to the conflict in South Sudan. Council also expresses appreciation to the IGAD Mediation Team led by Ambassador Seyoum Mesfin and comprising General Lazaro Sumbeiywo and General Mohammed Ahmed Moustafa El Dabi, for its relentless efforts; 4. Notes with satisfaction the progress made in the operationalization of the IGAD Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (MVM), including the deployment of the Monitoring and Verification Teams (MVTs) to Bentiu, Bor, Malakal and Nasser, and looks forward to the planned deployment of MVTs in twenty other sites. Council urges the Commission to provide the necessary support to this effect; 5. Further notes with satisfaction the adoption by the UN Security Council, on 27 May 2014, of resolution 2155 (2014) that extended and enhanced both the mandate and strength of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), including the deployment of three battalions with additional responsibility for protecting IGAD’s MVM, as well as implementing the Mission’s overall mandate. Council calls on the Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the protection force provided for in resolution 2155 (2014) to take all necessary steps towards the expeditious deployment of the required troops. Council further urges the UN to take all necessary steps to facilitate the deployment of the protection force. Council demands that the Parties immediately facilitate the full implementation of, and cooperation with, UNMISS and its protection force, as well as the MVM, in the discharge of their respective mandates;