PSC/PR/COMM(DCCLXXI) Page 1 COMMUNIQUE The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 771st meeting held on 11 May 2018, adopted the following decision on the African Migrants Crisis: Imperative for Expediting Free Movement Policy in Africa: Council: 1. Takes note of the statements made by the Commissioner for Social Affairs, H.E. Amira Elfadif, as well as the representatives of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Council also takes note of the presentations made by Lt. General Jalal Eldin Elsheikl Eltayeb, of the Republic of Sudan, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA) and by the Director for Political Affairs; 2. Recalls its previous communiqués and press statements on free movement of people and good, particularly communiqué [PSC/PR/COMM(DCLXI)] adopted at its 661st ministerial meeting held on 23 February 2017. Acknowledges that the AU Heads of State and Government have adopted important policy decisions on free movement of persons and goods, including Agenda 2063. In this context, Council further recalls decision [Assembly/AU/Dec.607(XXVII))] on the Free Movement of Persons and the African Passport adopted by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government at its 27th ordinary session held in Kigali, Rwanda, in July 2016 in which the Assembly urged all Member States to adopt the African Passport and to work closely with the AU Commission to facilitate the process towards the issuance at national level based on international, continental and national policy provisions and continental design and specifications; 3. Commends the efforts deployed by CISSA to reduce security impediments related to the free movement of person in Africa, as well as the efforts by AU Commission to speed up the implementation of the Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment in Africa adopted by the AU Summit in January 2018 in Addis Ababa and subsequently signed by a significant number of countries during the 10th Extra-Ordinary Summit of the AU held in Kigali in March 2018; 4. Also commends the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the East African Community (EAC) for the significant progress recorded to date in the promotion of free movement of persons, goods and services and urges other Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) to emulate the good examples; 5. Further commends Member States which have signed the Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment in Africa and the Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and emphases that the two instruments go hand-in-hand and are crucial in addressing the challenge of irregular migration in Africa. Council acknowledges that the implementation of these continental instruments will ensure dignified and legitimate movement of Africans without hindrance. Furthermore, Council emphasizes that the free movement of persons will promote regular