PSC/PR/COMM.(DVIII) Page 1 COMMUNIQUÉ The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 508th meeting, held on 18 May 2015, adopted the following decision on the implementation of the mandate of the Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the Lord's Resistance Army (RCILRA): Council, 1. Takes note of the report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the implementation of the mandate of the RCI-LRA [PSC/PR/2(DVII)], the introductory remarks by the Commissioner for Peace and Security and the briefing given by the AU Special Envoy for the LRA Issue, as well as of the statements made by the representatives of France, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, as members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, the UN Secretariat and the European Union (EU); 2. Recalls communiqué PSC/PR/COMM/1.(CDXXXVI) adopted at its 436th meeting held on 23 May 2014, through which Council, among others, extended the mandate of the RCILRA for an additional period of twelve (12) months; 3. Welcomes the progress being made in the implementation of the mandate of the RCI-LRA. Council commends the troops of the Regional Task Force (RTF), the operational arm of the RCI-LRA, for the progress made towards the elimination of the LRA, as evidenced by the neutralization of a number of LRA combatants, the defection of several LRA commanders, including Dominic Ongwen, and the rescue of many abductees, mainly women and children; 4. Expresses appreciation for the close partnership between the AU and the UN, through the AU Special Envoy for the LRA Issue, Lieutenant-General (Rtd.) Jackson Kiprono Tuwei, and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Africa, Professor Abdoulaye Bathily, which is sustaining the momentum against the LRA. Council pays tribute to the former AU Special Envoy for the LRA Issue, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, and commends the new Special Envoy for his commitment and sustained efforts; 5. Notes with satisfaction the continued support of the international partners to the RCI-LRA. In this respect, Council expresses its appreciation to the EU for its financial support to the Initiative, as well as to the US for its capacity-building, logistical and operational support to the RTF contingents. Council also expresses gratitude to the UN, particularly its peacekeeping operations on the ground, for the assistance extended to the RTF, within their means and respective mandates; 6. Expresses concern that, despite the progress being made, the LRA continues to operate in a number of areas in the Central African Republic (CAR) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), abducting, raping, killing civilians and causing the displacement of people in difficult humanitarian conditions;