Assembly/AU/Dec.630(XXVIII) Page 1 DECISION ON THE AFRICAN UNION MASTER ROADMAP OF PRACTICAL STEPS FOR SILENCING THE GUNS IN AFRICA BY THE YEAR 2020 Doc. Assembly/AU/6(XXVIII) The Assembly, 1. EXPRESSING DEEP CONCERN over the persistence of violent conflicts and crisis situations in some parts of the African continent, as well as the scourges related to this persistence, which have resulted in losses of innocent lives, untold suffering to the people, internally displaced persons and refugees, destruction of infrastructure and the environment, as well as derailment of national development programmes and projects among others; 2. RECALLING its OAU/AU 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration adopted on 25 May 2014, in which the Assembly pledged not to bequeath the burden of wars to the next generation of Africans and undertook to end all wars in Africa by the year 2020; 3. CONVINCED that Silencing the Guns in Africa by the Year 2020 will fast-track integration and economic transformation of Africa by eliminating conflicts and channeling resources towards development; 4. COMMENDS the Peace and Security Council for having developed the AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps for Silencing the Guns in Africa by the Year 2020, which constitutes frontal efforts towards promoting a conflict-free Africa as envisioned in Agenda 2063; 5. FURTHER COMMENDS the Government of the Republic of Zambia for hosting the PSC Retreat, in Lusaka, Zambia, from 7 to 9 November 2016 where this roadmap was crafted. ALSO EXPRESSES APPRECIATION to the Republic of Sierra Leone for the successful conduct of the PSC Retreat; 6. ENDORSES the African Union Master Roadmap of Practical Steps for Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020; 7. DIRECTS the PSC to establish a monitoring and evaluation mechanism on the basis of which the Assembly will periodically review progress in the implementation of the Master Roadmap; 8. REQUESTS the PSC to take the required steps and mobilize necessary support from all concerned stakeholders, including, in particular the United Nations Security Council and other similar Organs, in order to ensure effective follow up and implementation of the Master Roadmap with a view to realizing the goal of a conflict-free Africa; 9. CALLS ON all Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution (RECs/RMs), as well as civil society organizations, in collaboration with the Commission, to take necessary measures to fully implement the Master Roadmap; 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, 30 - 31 January 2017, Addis Ababa