Assembly/AU/Dec.653(XXIX)Rev.1 Page 1 DECISION ON THE ISSUE OF WESTERN SAHARA The Assembly, 1. WELCOMES the return of the Kingdom of Morocco to the African family, a return which it hopes will enhance the capacities of the Organisation to address the different challenges and various crises affecting the Continent, including the promotion of elements of a solution acceptable to the parties in line with the relevant decisions of the AU and the resolutions of the United Nations on Western Sahara; 2. ALSO WELCOMES the significant decrease in tension in the territory and the withdrawal of forces from the areas of confrontation, particularly the Guerguerat, as well as the commencement of the return of MINURSO staff; 3. COMMENDS the appointment by the Secretary General of the United Nations of a new Special Envoy accepted by the parties to the conflict, in the person of His Excellency Mr. Horst Kohler, former President of Germany; 4. URGES the Chairpersons of the African Union and the AU Commission, on the basis of the Framework Agreement signed between the AU and the UN on 19 May 2017 in New York, to ensure appropriate support for the initiative which the UN Secretary General plans to undertake in order to reach an agreement on a consensual and definitive solution to the conflict; 5. REQUESTS the Chairpersons of the African Union and the AU Commission, in consultation with the AU Peace and Security Council, to take appropriate measures (including the possible revitalization of the Committee of Heads of State decided in 1978) to support the efforts of the United Nations and encourage the parties, both of whom are now members of the African Union, to cooperate in good faith towards ensuring the success of the new process; 6. ALSO REQUESTS the Chairperson of the AU Commission to report to the Assembly in January 2018 on the measures and initiatives he might take on the issue, alone or with the Chairperson of the African Union, in partnership with the United Nations; 7. REMAINS seized of the issue.