Assembly/AU/Decl.1(XXI) Page 3 7. CALL ON the African civil society to continue to play its positive role in promoting peace, security and stability as called for by the PSC Protocol and REQUEST the Commission and the PSC to take all necessary steps to enhance interaction with civil society; 8. WELCOME the progress made in the relations between Sudan and South Sudan, with the signing of the Implementation Matrix for the Agreements signed of 27 September 2012 and CALL FOR a transparent inquiry into the killing of the paramount Chief of the Ngok Dinga Community in Abyei, as well as the strengthening and acceleration of the process of resolving the Abyei issue; in Somalia, with the consolidation of the security and political gains recorded over the past few years; the Great Lakes Region, with the signing of Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework; and in Mali, with the liberation of the northern part of the country and on-going efforts for the holding of elections. WE CALL ON all concerned stakeholders to spare no efforts in consolidating these achievements, and addressing the challenges at hand, in line with the relevant PSC communiqués. WE also WELCOME the progress made in peace building and post-conflict recovery in Burundi, Comoros, Côte d‟Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Sierra Leone, ENCOURAGE the countries concerned to pursue their efforts and CALL ON fellow African countries and the rest of the international community to continue assisting them in their efforts; 9. REITERATE the AU‟s concern at the continued challenges in the peace processes between Eritrea and Ethiopia and the relations between Eritrea and Djibouti, and REQUEST the Chairperson of the Commission to take appropriate steps to facilitate progress in these situations, in line with the powers entrusted to her by the PSC Protocol and earlier relevant decisions of the Assembly, and to report to the PSC, no later than October 2013, on the steps taken in this regard. WE ALSO REITERATE OUR CONCERN at the continued impasse in the conflict in Western Sahara, and CALL FOR renewed efforts based on relevant OAU/AU and UN resolutions, in order to overcome this impasse; 10. ALSO EXPRESS CONCERN at the prevailing situation in Madagascar and fully support the PSC and SADC decisions on the issue of candidatures to the forthcoming presidential elections. WE CONDEMN the illegal seizure of power in Central African Republic and the serious violations of human rights committed by the Seleka rebel group and in this regard, COMMEND the efforts of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), ENDORSE the PSC decisions on the matter and CALL FOR renewed efforts to restore security and ensure the return to constitutional order, bearing in mind the relevant PSC decisions and conclusions of the inaugural meeting of the International Contact Group on CAR (ICG-CAR). WE STRESS THE NEED for the early return to constitutional order in Guinea Bissau, noting with satisfaction ECOWAS, AU, CPLP, EU and UN coordinated efforts;

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